The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has launched a broad reform programme aimed at modernising Nigeria’s public procurement system through digitalisation, stronger compliance, professionalisation and the strategic use of government spending to support national development.

The Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, disclosed this on Thursday at the 2026 BAVCCA/BPP Procurement Performance Conference in Abuja, where he described public procurement as a critical tool for driving economic growth and infrastructure development.

Represented at the event by the Director of Civil Infrastructure, Nasir Bello, Adedokun said the bureau was pursuing one of the most ambitious efforts to transform public procurement in the country.

“Procurement is not merely a government process, it is a development instrument, an economic driver, and a powerful catalyst for national transformation,” he said.

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He stressed that the effectiveness of the procurement system directly affects the quality of development and the lives of Nigerians.

“When procurement succeeds, citizens benefit. When procurement fails, development suffers. This is why procurement reform is not simply an administrative exercise; it is a national imperative,” he added.

A major aspect of the reform is the implementation of an electronic government procurement system that will automate critical stages of procurement across government institutions.

According to Adedokun, the initiative will reduce manual processes, strengthen audit trails, improve real-time monitoring and provide more reliable data for government decision-making.

“It is not simply digitization. It is a transformation,” the BPP boss said.

He also identified the Federal Government’s Nigeria First policy as an important component of the new procurement direction, saying public spending should contribute more directly to the growth of local industries, job creation and innovation.

“Government spending must not merely purchase products and services. It must create opportunities. It must strengthen the industry. It must retain value within our economy,” he said.

Adedokun further called for greater professionalisation of procurement practice, improved compliance and oversight, as well as wider access to government procurement opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises, women-owned businesses, youth-led enterprises and other underrepresented groups.

The conference also examined challenges confronting procurement reforms, including capacity gaps, resistance to change, data-related issues and weak enforcement.

Participants emphasised the need to ensure that ongoing reforms translate into practical and measurable improvements in transparency, accountability and value for money.

“Our objective should therefore be simple, to move from reform to implementation, from implementation to measurable results, and from results to public confidence,” a participant at the conference said.

The event, themed “Celebrating Successes, Identifying Challenges, and Charging Solutions for Public Procurement Reforms,” featured panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on strengthening Nigeria’s procurement system and improving transparency in the management of public resources.

The BPP reform agenda is expected to further reposition public procurement as a major instrument for delivering infrastructure, stimulating economic activity and ensuring that government expenditure produces greater development outcomes for Nigerians.

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