U.S. report says Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting lacks transparency in procurement processes
A report by the U.S. Commerce Consultant has raised considerations concerning the transparency of Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting’s procurement processes.
The findings, revealed within the 2025 Nationwide Commerce Estimate (NTE) Report on international commerce boundaries, spotlight ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s efforts to ascertain open and aggressive bidding practices for presidency procurement.
The NTE is an annual report detailing international commerce boundaries confronted by U.S. exporters and USTR’s efforts to scale back these boundaries.
Whereas the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has made strides in enhancing transparency by publishing procurement procedures and bidding info on its web site, the report claims that the Nationwide Meeting operates independently of BPP oversight.
“The BPP has made quite a lot of procurement procedures and bidding info publicly obtainable on its web site. Nonetheless, Nigeria’s Nationwide Meeting operates its personal procurement course of that isn’t topic to BPP oversight and lacks transparency,” the report claims.
This lack of accountability has led to considerations about corruption and inefficiencies within the procurement system.
Key Findings from the Report
The U.S. Commerce Consultant famous that though U.S. firms have efficiently secured contracts in numerous sectors in Nigeria, they usually face difficulties in receiving funds.
- These challenges discourage corporations from collaborating in bidding processes. Moreover, international government-subsidized financing preparations seem to play a big position within the awarding of presidency contracts, additional complicating the procurement panorama.
- The report additionally highlighted that Nigerian authorities companies continuously fail to stick to established procurement pointers.
As an example, procurement proceedings are speculated to be formalized solely after the procuring entity ensures that funds can be found and obtains a “Certificates of ‘No Objection’ to Contract Award” from the BPP. Nonetheless, these necessities aren’t constantly adopted, undermining the credibility of the system.
Overseas firms bidding for contracts in Nigeria may face further hurdles, equivalent to being required to accomplice with native corporations or be a part of consortia.
The report additionally criticized customs for inconsistency and practices which are obstacles to commerce.
Background and broader implications
The Public Procurement Act of 2007 established the BPP because the regulatory authority chargeable for monitoring and overseeing public procurement in Nigeria.
Regardless of this framework, the Nationwide Meeting’s unbiased procurement practices stay a big barrier to attaining full transparency and accountability.
In accordance with the report, Nigeria is neither a celebration to the WTO Bargain on Authorities Procurement (GPA) nor an observer to the WTO Committee on Authorities Procurement, limiting its integration into international procurement requirements.
What you must know
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has expressed its intention to strengthen {economic} ties with america.
- Following a bilateral assembly between President Tinubu and U.S. Senior Advisor for Africa, Mr. Massad Boulos, in Paris, France, the Nigerian authorities introduced plans to develop a strategic {economic} and safety partnership with the U.S. The partnership goals to foster mutual respect, prosperity, and regional stability.
- This announcement comes amid the imposition of a 14% tariff on Nigerian exports by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Regardless of these commerce challenges, the U.S. authorities has expressed curiosity in increasing American funding in Nigeria and throughout Africa.
- The findings of the U.S. Commerce Consultant’s report emphasised the necessity for Nigeria to deal with transparency points inside its procurement processes.
Strengthening oversight and guaranteeing adherence to established pointers may improve investor confidence and foster higher worldwide collaboration.
As Nigeria seeks to construct strategic partnerships with international powers just like the U.S., enhancing its procurement framework can be crucial to attaining sustainable {economic} progress.
