News Investigators/ The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Adebowale Adedokun, has urged the emergence of procurement lawyers to address corruption and procurement deficits in Nigeria.
Mr Adedokun, in a statement by his Head of Public Relations, Zira Nagga, on Friday made the call at the 65th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Enugu.
He said lawyers must take ownership of the standard bidding document if procurement loopholes were to be eliminated and public resources utilised more effectively for national development.
The director general recommended specialised training for lawyers on revised bidding documents, contract drafting, and procurement reforms to build capacity and curb corrupt practices in the system.
He emphasised that procurement remained a strategic enabler for national development, requiring transparent practices, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder collaboration to deliver value to citizens.
On infrastructure, Mr Adedokun projected that Nigeria required 100 billion dollars annually, and about three trillion dollars in 30 years, to close the country’s wide infrastructure gap.
He warned that without governance reforms, transparency, and institutional capacity, increased funding could result in waste, corruption, and policy inconsistencies.
Mr Adedokun urged the NBA to champion procurement reforms, saying procurement lawyers will play a vital role in ensuring accountability and bridging the infrastructure deficit.
“Procurement is a strategic enabler for national development, ensuring efficient resource utilisation and delivering value to citizens.
“There is need for strong anti-corruption measures, transparent procurement, and stakeholder engagement to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit,” he said.
NAN
