The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at eradicating corruption in Nigeria’s public procurement process.
BPP’s Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, who spoke during the signing ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, said the move was necessary because the integrity of the public procurement process depends largely on Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), which must operate with transparency and diligence.
According to him, while the BPP has a mandate to oversee compliance with procurement laws, it also recognises human vulnerabilities and will therefore rely on credible third-party institutions such as CIFCFIN to investigate irregularities and recommend lawful corrective measures where necessary.
He urged CIFCFIN to assist the BPP in conducting in-depth investigations and to provide actionable intelligence that will strengthen the agency’s capacity to ensure compliance and accountability. Adedokun noted that BPP would work closely with the institute, particularly in the areas of investigation and prosecution, to ensure full enforcement of the Public Procurement Act.
The BPP boss disclosed that the agency has shifted from operating in isolation to adopting a multi-stakeholder approach in promoting transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
‘Public trust dictates how we manage and deploy public resources. There will be no witch-hunt and no reason for any individual or organisation to be worried, provided they are doing the right thing,’ he said.
Adedokun reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s procurement system remains transparent, ethical, and efficient, while fostering collaboration among relevant institutions to combat procurement-related corruption.
The leadership of CIFCFIN pledged the institute’s full commitment to the partnership, noting that it will promote the same transparency and accountability principles that the BPP has consistently championed. The institute also commended the BPP for its proactive stance in advancing ethical governance across all MDAs.