The Federal Government has launched a new digital platform called the National Procurement Certification Portal to improve how public funds are used and ensure better service delivery across the country.
The portal was launched in Abuja on Wednesday by the Bureau of Public Procurement, under the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement programme, with support from the World Bank.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the new portal is more than just a technology tool. According to him, it will help solve many problems in Nigeria’s public procurement system.
“These challenges include poor procurement practices, lack of skilled workers, and no proper training system,” the minister explained. “They have stopped us from using public money properly and slowed down our country’s economic growth.”
He said the platform will offer training, testing, and certification for procurement officers in all government offices. “With this, our officers will not just follow rules, they will also have the right skills to do the job at global standards,” he added.
The minister praised the Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, for his hard work and commitment. He said the new portal shows how serious the government is about fixing corruption and waste in public spending.
Idris also urged Nigerians to see the platform as a tool to demand better governance. “This is not just a government platform — it is also for citizens to expect greater transparency and hold leaders accountable,” he said.
He called on all government agencies to fully support the project and asked the media to help create awareness about its benefits.
In his own remarks, the BPP boss, Dr Adedokun, said the launch of the portal marks the beginning of a stronger and more organized training system for both public and private procurement officers in the country.
He said Nigeria, like other fast-growing economies, needs to update its systems to match modern technologies. “While other countries have moved ahead, we’ve been using the same methods for over 20 years,” he said.
“We’ve treated public procurement as if one method works for everyone. This has given an advantage to contractors who regularly train and update their teams, while our officers are left behind,” he added.
Adedokun said the Public Procurement Act of 2007 already gives the BPP the power to monitor, set standards, and build professional capacity for procurement officers, and this new platform will help fulfil that duty.
He also said the programme will start in phases, beginning with over 7,000 officers and graduates from the six Centres of Excellence, including some from other African countries.
According to him, the goal is to reduce waste, improve speed in service delivery, create job opportunities, and grow Nigeria’s economy by building a strong group of trained professionals.
“This is the beginning of a better, more efficient, and accountable procurement system in Nigeria,” Adedokun said.
