…To begin digital bid submission
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has reiterated its commitment towards participatory, evidence-informed governance, technical coordination, and stakeholders’ engagement required to strengthen Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Adebowale Adedokun, director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement, said that part of the measures the agency is taking to achieve national development is the introduction of digital submission of bids, which will take effect from March 2, 2026.
Adedokun, while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ikeja, Lagos State, said that from March 2, 2026, contractors bidding for public projects will be required to submit their bids electronically as part of efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in the procurement system.
According to him, the measure became necessary due to persistent irregularities in Nigeria’s procurement process, which is a major hindrance to national development.
Adedokun said the forum, organised in partnership with the United Kingdom-based Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement, is part of a consultative exercise with critical stakeholders in the sector and the unveiling of the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems.
The director general said that public procurement remained central to national development, as it determined the quality of infrastructure and social services delivered to citizens.
He said that the system had been plagued by irregularities over the years, making reforms inevitable. According to him, the new MAP system would integrate technology into the procurement process in is line with the reform agenda of the Federal Government.
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“The procurement system is something that has to be totally overhauled, and in overhauling procurement, certain people will not be happy, including procurement officers.
“The development of Nigeria hinges on how effective our procurement processes are. No nation can develop when procurement is seen as transactional. Procurement is the tool for change in this country,” he said.
Adedokun, in highlighting some of the reforms the agency hopes to carry out, said that BPP had concluded plans to commence full electronic auction to eliminate human interference and enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Fatai Idowu Onafowote, Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, said the state had long recognised the importance of technology in procurement, which informed its earlier adoption of digital processes.
Onafowote said the use of technology in public procurement would enhance efficiency and transparency, adding that the BPP’s decision was a step in the right direction.
According to him, Lagos state has done it and realised that it works, and it can work in any other state. “The BPP national is going to encourage all states of the federation to adopt this system that is working, and that is why we can say Lagos State is leading the pack in ensuring that technology drives the process,” he added.
On his part, Olajide Ipinsagba, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, said the legislative arm of government is ready to provide support for the reforms that BPP is driving, adding that the agency needed to set up a team to work with lawmakers in driving the changes.
Chioma Itodo, a representative of Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), said the organisation was committed to supporting the BPP in advancing comprehensive procurement reforms.
Itodo said that to ground these reforms in evidence, PACE supported the deployment of the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), a globally recognised diagnostic tool developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
According to her, the MAPS assessment reviewed Nigeria’s entire federal procurement system, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and reform priorities across legal frameworks, institutional capacity, market practices, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.
Rather than operating as a standalone assessment, MAPS is being used as a reform enabler, ensuring that policy and legal changes are aligned with real system-level gaps.
Highlights of the stakeholders’ forum indicate that a transparent procurement system ensures a level playing field for all bidders, both national and international businesses, who wish to participate.
It also shows stakeholders that a credible procurement system provides an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that offers a reliable way to resolve disputes, protect investments, and maintain business continuity.
