How BPP saved Nigeria from $18bn procurement fraud

The Federal Government has commended the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for preventing Nigeria from losing an estimated $18 billion to fraudulent contracts in the past year.

Speaking at the 2025 Mandatory Continuous Public Procurement Capacity Training Programme, organised by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and BPP, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, highlighted that corruption in public procurement accounts for roughly 90% of all corruption cases in the public sector.

He noted that every naira lost to contract fraud is a naira diverted from building schools, hospitals, roads, and other essential services.

Represented by his Technical Adviser, Olusegun Adekunle, Akume stressed that a transparent and well-regulated procurement system is one of the most effective tools against corruption.

He commended reforms under the Public Procurement Act 2007 and BPP’s due diligence efforts, which have saved the country huge sums.

Akume urged all public sector agencies still in default of procurement policies to comply, warning that audits were underway to enforce adherence.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s National Development Plan, which includes massive infrastructure and social investment targets, relies heavily on a robust procurement system to ensure value for money and timely delivery of public projects.

Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Galadima Aminu, praised the bureau’s collaboration with tertiary institutions, noting that over 15,000 Nigerians had benefited from PTDF scholarship programmes.

He highlighted PTDF initiatives such as upgrading 26 university departments, establishing 214 ICT centres, and the upcoming STEM programme targeting 1,000 secondary schools across Nigeria.

BPP Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, commended President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to procurement reform and transparency, which has empowered the bureau to professionalize public procurement.

He also thanked the Rivers State government for hosting the training, which saw 350 participants selected from about 1,000 applicants.

Adedokun urged participants to engage fully, uphold ethical standards, and reinforce professionalism, saying competent and courageous procurement officers are critical to ensuring due process in public service.