Lagos: The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Dr. Olajide Ipinsagba, emphasized the importance of a transparent and corruption-free procurement system in safeguarding public resources and promoting national growth. He made these remarks during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) initiative in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event gathered contractors, suppliers, consultants, civil society organizations, and professional bodies to discuss the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS). Dr. Ipinsagba highlighted the importance of beginning procurement processes with proper needs assessments to ensure value for money and accountability. He emphasized that the satisfaction with the quality and value of procured items, rather than just their delivery, is essential.
The lawmaker stressed the necessity of guaranteeing the durability and integrity of projects such as roads, bridges, and equipment to avoid wasting public funds. He noted that a credible procurement framework would restore public confidence and encourage the participation of small and medium enterprises, indigenous contractors, and local service providers. Dr. Ipinsagba reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to providing legislative support for reforms in the sector and disclosed that a bill to prioritize locally manufactured goods in public procurement had reached the public hearing stage.
He explained that the proposed ‘Nigeria First’ bill aims to discourage the importation of goods and services that can be produced locally and encouraged local manufacturers to participate in the public hearing to demonstrate their capabilities. On the issue of compliance, Dr. Ipinsagba stated that regulatory agencies and MDAs are responsible for enforcement, while the Senate would continue to strengthen the legal framework. He also called for collaboration with the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) to support contractors in equipment leasing and contract financing, noting that access to collateral remains a significant challenge for contractors executing projects.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State stated that the state is strengthening sustainable and digital procurement to enhance transparency and efficiency. Represented by the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Authority (LSPPA), Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, Sanwo-Olu mentioned that the reforms are focused on sustainable procurement, digital automation, and increased participation of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). He explained that sustainable procurement emphasizes environmental responsibility, lifecycle cost, social inclusion, and support for local industries.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted that digital technologies across the procurement chain have improved planning accuracy, reduced human discretion, and enabled real-time monitoring. He noted that more than 150 MDAs have been onboarded onto the state’s e-procurement platform, which eliminates manual bottlenecks and accelerates service delivery. Additionally, Lagos has adopted the Open Contracting Data Standards to make procurement data accessible in real time. Other initiatives include a Procurement Planning Clinic, designed to align budgets with actual needs, and automated vendor databases to streamline registration and ensure tax compliance.
Mr. Emmanuel Metuaghan, Director of Planning, Strategy and Coordination at ELRA, presented on ‘Lease Registration, ELRA Eligibility and Access to Equipment via ELRA Marketplace’. He stated that a transparent leasing system would strengthen public procurement and expressed ELRA’s commitment to working with BPP, contractors, and other stakeholders to unlock leasing for economic growth. Metuaghan urged contractors to register lease transactions and obtain relevant certification, advising MDAs to integrate lease verification into procurement due diligence. He also encouraged financial institutions to leverage ELRA data for improved risk management and called for stakeholders to build a transparent leasing ecosystem to support national development.