Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has pledged to rigorously identify and penalize contractors and public officials who breach procurement regulations, emphasizing that the oil and gas sector will soon face intensified oversight.
During an interview on Arise News Wednesday morning, Adedokun highlighted his administration’s commitment to eradicating impunity within procurement processes by publicly disclosing violations, demanding restitution of misappropriated funds, and partnering closely with anti-corruption agencies to ensure offenders face legal consequences.
“Significant changes are underway nationwide. Mention procurement anywhere, and the response is clear: the old ways are no longer acceptable,” Adedokun remarked.
“Recently, I have directed several government agencies to return funds unlawfully obtained, and they are complying. My counterparts at the EFCC and ICPC receive daily instructions from me to prosecute corrupt officials and contractors. Our next step is to make all these infractions public, which we are actively doing.”
The DG disclosed that President Bola Tinubu personally encouraged him to enhance transparency by publicly naming those who violate procurement laws.
“In my conversation with the President, he said, ‘Proceed with it. I have no tolerance for anyone breaking the law. Publish the names and let justice take its course.'”
Adedokun also revealed that the BPP’s website has been revamped to provide Nigerians with up-to-date information on procurement breaches. He assured that detailed reports of violations will be accessible to the public in the near future.
He further emphasized that the oil and gas industry, which had previously been somewhat shielded due to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), will soon be fully integrated into procurement oversight mechanisms.
“While we approved contracts in this sector years ago, the PIA caused us to pause. That pause is ending. Procurement regulations apply across all sectors, including oil and gas. We are currently engaged in confidential discussions, and very soon, we will intensify scrutiny in this area. Our colleagues at the ICPC are conducting thorough investigations, and the outcomes will be revealed in due course.”
Adedokun acknowledged that enforcing procurement laws has encountered obstacles, citing poor adherence by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), limited public participation, and insufficient awareness of procurement guidelines as key challenges.
“One major issue is the reluctance of MDAs to comply with directives. Additionally, citizen involvement remains low. We are continuously working with stakeholders to improve understanding, but the penetration of procurement rules is still inadequate,” he explained.
The DG recalled that during the COVID-19 crisis, procurement rules were temporarily eased to facilitate rapid response, but this leniency was exploited by some individuals.
“During the pandemic, we relaxed regulations, and unfortunately, some took advantage of this. It has been difficult to revert to stricter compliance since then,” he noted.
He also pointed out that a lack of technical expertise among certain procurement officers, who mistakenly view procurement merely as contract awarding, poses another significant hurdle.
“There is a misconception among some officers that procurement is solely about awarding contracts, which is far from the full scope of their responsibilities,” Adedokun lamented.
Despite these challenges, the DG affirmed that ongoing reforms aim to enhance transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s procurement system.
He concluded that through a combination of sanctions, legal actions, and public disclosure of violations, the BPP is determined to rebuild public confidence in the management of government expenditures.
