The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has called for stronger collaboration between procurement professionals and project managers to improve infrastructure delivery, strengthen local industries and ensure better value for public expenditure.
The Director-General of the bureau, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the 2026 International Project Management Day programme, the third annual conference and eighth induction ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN).
Speaking on the theme, “Project Management: A Catalyst for Nigeria’s Industrial Transformation,” Adedokun said procurement and project management must work together to translate government policies, budgetary allocations and investments into measurable development outcomes.
He explained that procurement was responsible for identifying competent service providers and establishing clear contractual obligations, while project management coordinated the resources, personnel, timelines and risks required to deliver projects successfully.
He said the success of public expenditure should not be measured by the number of contracts awarded but by the delivery of functional infrastructure, quality services and sustainable benefits to citizens.
Adedokun said the BPP was strengthening the connection through reforms, including the Nigeria First Policy, Sector-Based Procurement Frameworks and initiatives to broaden supplier participation.
According to him, the measures are intended to promote domestic production, strengthen local supply chains and expand opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
He also highlighted the bureau’s MSME Public Procurement Training Programme and Digital Learning Portal, supported by the World Bank under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement (SPESSE) Project.
The initiative is designed to equip micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with the knowledge to understand procurement requirements, prepare responsive bids and meet contractual obligations. The digital platform is also expected to widen access to procurement education and continuous capacity development.
Other reforms identified by the BPP chief include price intelligence and benchmarking, revised standard bidding documents, updated prior-review and monetary-threshold guidelines, and a policy on contract variations.
He said the bureau’s monitoring and evaluation system, professional certification and continuous capacity building would strengthen accountability and ensure public spending translated into functional assets.
Addressing newly inducted members of the institute, Adedokun urged them to uphold professional integrity, excellence and accountability.
He stressed that effective project management should begin before contract award and continue beyond physical completion to cover the proper utilisation and maintenance of delivered projects.
Earlier, the Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of CIPMN, Henry Ifeanyi Mbadiwe, commended the BPP for its procurement reforms and digital transformation initiatives.
Mbadiwe highlighted the institute’s automation of membership registration, professional examinations, licensing and verification processes, saying the changes had improved administrative efficiency and transparency.
He also said the institute’s electronic verification system and integration of an Application Programming Interface enabled organisations and other stakeholders to confirm the professional status and licensing credentials of project managers.
Adedokun said closer cooperation among procurement professionals, project managers, contractors and other stakeholders would improve project delivery, support employment, strengthen domestic value chains and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial development.
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