We will provide equal opportunities for Nigerian contractors to win Contracts

By Iyojo Ameh

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Jide Ipansagba, has assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate, working alongside the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, is committed to creating a transparent and inclusive procurement system that will provide equal opportunities for all citizens, including ordinary Nigerians, to bid and win government contracts.
Senator Ipansagba made this statement while speaking with journalists in his Abuja office. He emphasized that the committee was taking decisive steps to reform the procurement process by eradicating fraud, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that only qualified individuals or companies secure contracts. He noted that the era of backdoor deals and single-source procurements that fail to provide value for money would soon be over.

“We are working to create a procurement system where ordinary Nigerians can participate without the need for connections. No more will contractors be awarded jobs without going through proper bidding processes,” said Ipansagba. “We aim to bring a system where the right people get the right jobs, which will also lead to substantial cost savings for the government.”

The Senator added that the committee’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every contract awarded reflects due diligence, and that Nigerians are given a fair chance to compete for government jobs. As part of this reform, the committee is working on transitioning the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from an outdated, analog system to a digital platform, making the entire process more efficient, transparent, and accessible.

“We are transitioning from traditional analog procurement methods to digital means, and in doing so, we aim to align Nigeria’s procurement practices with international standards,” Senator Ipansagba stated. “The focus will be on creating a procurement process that is accessible to all, ensuring transparency, and eliminating corruption.”

He also noted that the committee would not tolerate contractors who lack the necessary resources or expertise to handle government contracts. Instead, it will ensure that those awarded contracts are capable of fulfilling their obligations, thereby improving the quality of public service delivery.