BPP DG: We’ll significantly boost Nigeria’s GDP through innovations

Adebowale Adedokun, director-general (DG) of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), says the agency will “significantly contribute” to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) through innovations.

Adedokun spoke on Monday when he appeared before the house of representatives committee on public procurement to defend the bureau’s 2025 budget.

In December 2024, Adedokun said the agency introduced a comprehensive strategy to eliminate procurement fraud, noting that the motive is to ensure that the government obtains optimal value for all its contracts.

Adedokun told lawmakers that the BPP is strengthening its audit systems to tackle corruption in the procurement system.

He said the bureau needs adequate funding to embark on more reforms that would improve the nation’s GDP.

He said the BPP proposed to spend N72.7 billion in 2025, but the Budget Office slashed it to N3.2 billion.

“We also realise that we need to also intensify our audit exercise. It is better to prevent than to prosecute,” Adedokun said.

“Under our watch, our strategy is to ensure we prevent misuse of funds through real-time IT tools in procurement audits.

“We want to go digital in terms of our workflow, which means even if DG is not on seat, certification can be done anywhere in the country.

” We also provided for an upgrade of our national database of contractors and service providers.

“Under the 2025 budget, it would no longer be business as usual. We will be categorising contractors.

“Meaning that contractors of equal competence must bid for projects within their funding capacity.

“I want to assure you that we have the capacity to transform the procurement space within the shortest possible time. We will do more if empowered financially.

“If we use procurement as a tool for good governance, it will reduce corruption and poverty and increase employment and industry if this appeal is given due consideration.

“BPP has the capacity to contribute significantly to the GDP of the country through the innovations we are bringing on board.”

Unyime Idem, chairman of the committee, expressed support for the bureau to function optimally.

“We would engage the committee in charge of appropriation to ensure that those inadequacies in terms of funding are addressed,” Idem said.

“I have noted that there are some major critical needs of the bureau; for example, the bureau does not have a befitting and functional office accommodation.

“An important institution like the BPP that is reviewing huge projects and regulating all the major capital projects in Nigeria should have a befitting office.

“I urge the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to expedite action on leveraging technology to enhance its operations.

“To effectively regulate, review, and monitor public procurement, the BPP must deploy cutting-edge IT assets, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence.

“Notably, many countries have successfully transitioned to e-procurement, achieving significant gains in efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency.”

Idem asked the BPP to prioritise the upgrade of its outdated digital infrastructure, including the national contractor’s database intelligence, price intelligence and monitoring, asset tracking and management, and other critical systems to ensure seamless and transparent public procurement processes.