The Nigerian Senate and Lagos State government have joined forces to promote a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free public procurement system, a move aimed at safeguarding public resources and stimulating national economic growth.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Lagos on Thursday, Dr. Olajide Ipinsagba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, emphasised that proper procurement processes start with a clear assessment of needs to ensure value for money and long-term durability of public projects.
“The essence of procurement is to ensure that what is delivered meets both quality and value expectations.
”Projects like roads, bridges, and equipment must be durable and reliable to prevent waste of public funds,” Ipinsagba stated.
The meeting, organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), brought together contractors, suppliers, consultants, civil society organisations, and professional bodies to discuss the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS).
Ipinsagba reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to backing procurement reforms legislatively, highlighting the “Nigeria First” bill, which seeks to prioritise locally manufactured goods in public contracts.
He urged local manufacturers to actively participate in the public hearings to demonstrate their capabilities.
On enforcement, the senator emphasised that regulatory agencies and MDAs bear the responsibility, while the Senate continues to strengthen the legal framework.
He also called for collaboration with the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) to address challenges around equipment leasing and access to collateral for contractors.
Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Authority (LSPPA), outlined the state’s ongoing reforms, including the adoption of sustainable and digital procurement processes to improve transparency and efficiency.
“Digital technologies across the procurement chain have improved planning accuracy, reduced human discretion, and enabled real-time monitoring.
More than 150 MDAs are now onboarded onto Lagos State’s e-procurement platform, eliminating bottlenecks and enhancing service delivery,” Onafowote said.
The state has also implemented the Open Contracting Data Standards, enabling public access to procurement data, and launched initiatives like the Procurement Planning Clinic and automated vendor databases to align budgets with actual needs and ensure tax compliance.
In a presentation on lease management, Mr. Emmanuel Metuaghan, Director of Planning, Strategy and Coordination at ELRA, said a transparent equipment leasing system would strengthen procurement practices.
He encouraged contractors to register lease transactions and obtain certification, while urging MDAs and financial institutions to leverage ELRA data to support risk management and economic growth.
The collaboration between the Senate and Lagos State underscores a shared commitment to integrity, local industry participation, and the modernisation of Nigeria’s procurement framework, setting the stage for greater efficiency, accountability, and economic development.
