The Network for Public Procurement Advocacy and Development (NEFGAD) has faulted the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) over what it described as a “weak and deceptive” response to the 2025 U.S. Fiscal Transparency Report, which indicted Nigeria for failing to disclose procurement contract details.
The U.S. Department of State, in its latest review, acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in publishing budget documents and debt obligations but flagged persistent opacity around public procurement, warning that it undermines accountability and weakens governance.
The report, which assessed 139 countries and the Palestinian Authority, found that 71 governments met minimum fiscal transparency requirements, while 69 did not. Nigeria was listed among 32 African countries still lagging, alongside Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Chad, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and others.
Specifically, the report faulted the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation for failing to publish comprehensive budget-execution audits despite having full access to the data. It recommended:
- Timely publication of budget documents and end-of-year reports.
- Greater transparency in natural resource extraction contracts.
- Public disclosure of procurement contracts.
Reacting, BPP Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, dismissed the U.S. findings as outdated and unreflective of reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He cited measures such as:
- Open advertisement of contracts and price benchmarking.
- Online bidding that enabled foreign firms to win contracts remotely.
- Procurement decentralisation and higher approval thresholds for ministries.
- Ongoing transition to e-procurement.
Adedokun also said aggrieved contractors can now petition the Bureau directly, while anti-graft agencies including the EFCC, ICPC, and the Police are actively investigating procurement violations.
But NEFGAD rejected the BPP’s defence. In a statement issued by its Acting Head of Office, Barr. Unekwu Blessing-Ojo, the group insisted the U.S. report accurately reflects Nigeria’s procurement realities and aligns with its own independent findings.
The group accused the Bureau under Adedokun of:
- Operating “shrouded in secrecy.”
- Ignoring due process and withholding contract information.
- Presiding over a demoralised workforce.
- Issuing “AI-generated” policy statements with no tangible impact.
NEFGAD further criticised BPP’s stakeholder engagement as “tokenistic,” claiming events were held without follow-up action. It also questioned Adedokun’s competence and integrity to drive meaningful reform.
“The success or failure of any administration depends largely on its public procurement practices,” the statement read. “If the responsibility of this office is too big for Dr. Adedokun, he should resign and allow the President to appoint a more capable leader.”
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