Nigeria slammed over poor contract transparency as watchdog rejects US report

Nigeria’s procurement system has come under fire after a civil society group accused the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) of failing to ensure transparency, following a damning United States report that flagged the country for opacity in contract disclosure.

The US Department of State’s 2025 Fiscal Transparency Report, which assessed 139 governments, found that Nigeria still withholds crucial details of procurement contracts despite progress in publishing budget and debt data. Out of the countries reviewed, only 71 met the minimum standard, while Nigeria was among 69 that fell short — and one of 32 African nations named, alongside Egypt, Algeria, Liberia, Cameroon and Tanzania.

The report also criticised the Office of the Auditor-General for repeatedly failing to release comprehensive budget-execution audits within the legally required timeframe. It urged urgent reforms to strengthen oversight and make contract records readily available.

But the BPP rejected the findings. Director-General Dr Adebowale Adedokun described the US assessment as outdated, insisting that reforms under President Bola Tinubu had “boosted openness and accountability.” He pointed to digital bidding platforms, decentralised approval processes, ongoing procurement audits and contract reversals after petitions as evidence of progress.

Civil society groups disagree. The Network for Public Procurement Advocacy and Development (NEFGAD) dismissed the BPP’s defence as “weak and misleading,” insisting that the US findings mirror Nigeria’s reality.

In a statement signed by Acting Head of Office Barrister Unekwu Blessing-Ojo, NEFGAD accused the Bureau of being “opaque and ineffective,” adding that procurement information is still withheld from the public, due process is often ignored, and staff morale has plummeted.

The group described BPP’s recent policy papers on local content, civil society participation and service delivery as “cosmetic” with no tangible impact, alleging that stakeholder engagement is limited to “token events” without follow-up or measurable outcomes.

Calling for fresh leadership at the Bureau, NEFGAD urged President Tinubu to overhaul the system, warning that effective procurement will determine the success or failure of his Renewed Hope Agenda.