BPP DG pushes for procurement law specialists to tackle corruption, plug infrastructure gaps
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS, ACFE, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to embrace the training and development of procurement lawyers as a strategy to strengthen transparency and curb corruption in public procurement.
Speaking at the 65th Annual General Conference of the NBA held in Enugu on August 25, 2025, Dr. Adedokun stressed that lawyers must play a central role in shaping procurement processes. He noted that understanding and taking ownership of the revised standard bidding document is key to reducing procurement deficits in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued on August 29, 2025, by BPP’s Head of Public Relations, Zira Zaka Nagga, the DG outlined several core recommendations, including:
- Training: Equipping lawyers with practical knowledge of the standard bidding document.
- Specialisation: Encouraging lawyers to specialise in diverse procurement areas and foster cross-sector collaboration.
- Contract Drafting: Strengthening contract agreement design to minimise loopholes and check corruption.
- Anti-Corruption Safeguards: Eliminating systemic gaps to create a more transparent and accountable procurement system.
Dr. Adedokun further observed that governance reforms, institutional capacity, and transparency are as critical as funding in closing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit. He cautioned that without these reforms, additional financing would simply translate into waste.
Highlighting Nigeria’s infrastructure needs, he projected that $100 billion will be required annually, with an estimated $3 trillion needed over the next three decades to bridge the country’s infrastructure gap.
He reiterated that procurement serves as a strategic tool for national development, enabling optimal resource utilisation and ensuring citizens derive real value from government investments.
