World Bank Commends Nigeria’s Procurement Reforms, Says Framework Worthy of Emulation

The World Bank has commended the Federal Government for providing the political backing that enabled the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to advance reforms in Nigeria’s public procurement system.

According to a BPP statement dated October 26, 2026, the commendation came during a World Bank Group forum attended by more than 350 procurement specialists.

World Bank Procurement Practice Manager for West and Central Africa, Nazarene Ali, praised the BPP’s leadership for overcoming bureaucratic obstacles and described Nigeria’s procurement capacity-building framework as worthy of international emulation.

Presenting the reforms, BPP Director-General, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, said the Nigeria Public Procurement Certification Programme had become mandatory for federal procurement officers, with a defined compliance period for existing practitioners.

He disclosed that 2,972 procurement practitioners had received professional certification under the programme, implemented through the World Bank-financed Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Project.

The BPP also reported that participating countries and organisations requested Nigeria’s technical assistance to replicate aspects of the framework.