By Fatima Saka
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has warned that poor procurement decisions, compromised contract evaluations and unethical practices could undermine public projects, leaving roads unfinished, hospitals unequipped and schools abandoned.
The Director-General of the Bureau, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, gave the warning on Monday while declaring open the second batch of the 2026 Mandatory Continuous Public Procurement Capacity Development Training Programme (MCPPCDTP) at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Centre for Skill Development and Training, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Adedokun, represented by the Director of Civil Infrastructure Department, Engr. Nasir Bello, urged procurement officers to uphold professionalism, diligence and integrity, describing them as the first line of defence against inefficiency, irregularities and unethical practices in public institutions.
He said procurement officers must ensure that every naira of public expenditure delivers measurable value, stressing that procurement should move beyond routine administrative procedures to become a strategic instrument for institutional integrity, economic growth and national development.
The Director-General said the training was designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of procurement principles, processes, regulations, ethics and best practices under the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He identified key reforms being implemented by the Bureau to strengthen the procurement system to include the Nigeria First Policy, Debarment Policy, Affirmative Procurement, digitalisation initiatives, Price Intelligence and Benchmarking, and Contractor Classification and Categorisation.
He also highlighted the establishment of a National Procurement Community of Practice involving the BPP and procurement leadership across the 36 states of the federation.
According to him, the platform will promote peer learning, knowledge sharing, capacity development, policy dialogue and harmonisation of procurement standards across the country.
He said the initiative would encourage the Federal Government and state governments to work together in building a stronger national procurement system rather than operating as isolated entities.
Adedokun commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Bureau had continued to pursue measures aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, procurement planning, local content and efficiency in public spending.
He further described public procurement as a major driver of investment, job creation and human capital development, noting that an effective system would strengthen investor confidence, support local industries and create opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and young entrepreneurs.
The BPP boss urged the approximately 700 procurement officers participating in the two batches of the programme to embrace technology, adopt data-driven approaches and demonstrate sound professional judgement in carrying out their responsibilities.
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He expressed confidence that the training would equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to advance procurement reforms and improve public service delivery across their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He declared the second batch of the 2026 training programme open, urging participants to champion transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
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