Key points
- Federal Government approves seven new zonal offices for the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
- World Bank-backed SPESSE programme deepens reforms in transparency, certification and e-procurement.
- Over 2,075 procurement officers verified, with 816 certification results already processed.
Main story
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and professionalism in Nigeria’s public procurement system with the approval of seven new zonal offices for the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The move forms part of ongoing reforms supported by the World Bank under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) programme, aimed at modernising procurement processes and aligning them with global best practices.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations at the BPP, Zira Nagga, the development was highlighted during a recent implementation mission meeting between the Bureau and World Bank officials in Abuja.
BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the establishment of the new zonal offices was approved by President Bola Tinubu to deepen institutional reach, improve oversight, and strengthen compliance across all tiers of government procurement activities.
He also disclosed that sustainable procurement is being introduced as a specialised recruitment area within the procurement cadre, creating structured career pathways for graduates trained at SPESSE Centres of Excellence across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
These include Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi; and the University of Benin.
The issues
Despite progress in reform implementation, Nigeria’s procurement system has historically faced challenges, including:
- Weak transparency and oversight in contract awards
- Limited professionalisation within procurement cadres
- Inefficiencies in contract execution and monitoring
- Gaps in digital procurement adoption across MDAs
Officials say addressing these structural weaknesses remains central to ongoing reforms.
What’s being said
Dr Adedokun described the reforms as critical to modernising Nigeria’s procurement architecture, noting that the bureau is also working on a National Procurement Strategic Framework and proposed amendments to the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
He said the certification drive has already recorded significant progress, with 2,075 procurement officers verified and 816 certification results processed.
On his part, World Bank representative, Mr Ishtiak Siddique, commended Nigeria’s progress under SPESSE, particularly in certification, capacity building and institutional strengthening.
Siddique emphasised that electronic procurement (e-procurement) remains a key milestone for achieving transparency and efficiency, while also highlighting upcoming verification exercises scheduled to begin in July.
He also pointed to collaboration areas such as standard tender documents, sustainability retreats, MSME training support, and digital procurement systems.
What’s next
Key next steps in the reform agenda include:
- Operationalisation of the seven new BPP zonal offices
- Rollout of enhanced procurement certification and verification exercises
- Expansion of e-procurement systems across ministries and agencies
- Legislative review of the Public Procurement Act (2007)
- Strengthening institutional partnerships with key federal civil service bodies
Bottom line
Nigeria’s procurement reforms are entering a more aggressive implementation phase, with expanded institutional presence, deeper World Bank collaboration and a push toward digital systems. While progress has been recorded in certification and policy design, the effectiveness of these reforms will ultimately depend on full enforcement, digital adoption and sustained political will across government institutions.
