BPP unveils reform to digitalise, modernise public procurement

The Bureau of Public Procurement has unveiled a broad procurement transformation programme anchored on digitalisation, professionalisation, compliance and the strategic use of government spending, while seeking stronger partnerships with the media and digital content creators to improve transparency in public expenditure.

The Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 BAVCCA/BPP Procurement Performance Conference in Abuja, where he described public procurement as a major instrument for driving Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural development.

The development comes amid longstanding concerns over transparency, value for money and accountability in the management of public resources, with procurement serving as a key channel through which government funds are converted into roads, hospitals, schools, security infrastructure and other development projects.

The BPP, established under the Public Procurement Act, is responsible for regulating and monitoring public procurement and promoting economy, efficiency, transparency and accountability in the procurement process.

Speaking at the conference, Adedokun, who was represented by the Director of Civil Infrastructure, Nasir Bello, said the bureau was implementing what he described as one of the most ambitious procurement modernisation programmes in Nigeria’s history.

“Procurement is not merely a government process, it is a development instrument, an economic driver, and a powerful catalyst for national transformation,” he said.

According to him, the success or failure of the procurement system has a direct impact on citizens and the country’s development trajectory.

“When procurement succeeds, citizens benefit. When procurement fails, development suffers. This is why procurement reform is not simply an administrative exercise; it is a national imperative,” he added.

A major component of the reform, he said, was the implementation of the electronic government procurement system, which would automate key stages of procurement across government institutions.

Adedokun said the system would reduce manual intervention, strengthen audit trails, facilitate real-time monitoring and provide more reliable procurement data for evidence-based decision-making.

He stressed that the initiative was not merely about replacing paper-based processes with digital platforms.

“It is not simply digitization. It is a transformation,” the BPP boss said.

He also identified the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy as an important component of the procurement reform, stressing that government spending should be deployed to stimulate domestic industries, create jobs, promote innovation and retain economic value within the country.

“Government spending must not merely purchase products and services. It must create opportunities. It must strengthen the industry. It must retain value within our economy,” he said.

The BPP DG further called for the professionalisation of procurement management and stronger compliance and oversight mechanisms, while advocating greater access to public procurement opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises, women-owned businesses, youth-led enterprises and other underrepresented groups.

Meanwhile, the Bloggers and Content Creators Association of Nigeria announced plans to submit petitions and evidence of alleged corruption in parts of the public procurement system to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The President of BAVCCA, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, said the association, working with the Council of Independent, Civic, Monitoring and Digital Investigations, had uncovered what he described as “deeply troubling patterns of wrongdoing” within parts of the public system.

He said the organisations would formally name government institutions allegedly implicated in the practices and draw the attention of the anti-graft agency to the alleged infractions.

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“In line with our commitment to accountability, we shall be formally submitting detailed letters and evidence to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, naming implicated government institutions, and drawing attention to observed acts of corruption,” Chukwunyere said.

He maintained that no public institution should be beyond scrutiny, stressing that transparency must be matched with consequences where wrongdoing was established.

Chukwunyere also called for stronger and more structured engagement between the BPP, media organisations, civil society and digital content creators.

“We believe there is a need for stronger and more structured engagement between BPP, the media, the civil society, and the digital content community,” he said.

According to him, such collaboration would strengthen procurement education, public awareness, responsible monitoring and citizens’ understanding of government reforms.

He identified capacity gaps, resistance to change, data manipulation, data challenges and weak enforcement as some of the challenges confronting procurement reforms.

“Our objective should therefore be simple, to move from reform to implementation, from implementation to measurable results, and from results to public confidence,” he said.

Adedokun also urged bloggers, content creators and digital journalists to play a more active role in monitoring public procurement and explaining government spending to citizens.

“You are no longer mere observers. You are drivers of public discourse. You are amplifiers of information. You are partners in accountability,” he said.

He urged digital media practitioners to help citizens understand not only what government spends, but also why and how public funds are spent and the development outcomes generated from such expenditure.

Chukwunyere also announced plans by BAVCCA to expand its civic engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections through government and presidential debates.

He said the debates would provide political candidates with platforms to present their manifestos, policies and programmes directly to Nigerians.

He urged citizens to participate actively in the electoral process by registering, obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards and making choices based on competence, character, capacity and credible programmes.

He also appealed to politicians and their supporters to shun incitement, violence and divisive rhetoric.

The conference, themed “Celebrating Successes, Identifying Challenges, and Charging Solutions for Public Procurement Reforms,” featured panel discussions and interactive sessions on procurement reforms and transparency.

The event also featured the presentation of the BAVCCA Man of the Year Leadership Award to Adedokun, who was decorated as an ambassador of the association.

Other awards and recognitions were presented to leading content creators for their contributions to procurement advocacy and public accountability.