The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards and integrity in public procurement. The Bureau aims to achieve this by fostering transparency, accountability, and efficiency, crucial elements for national advancement and transformation.
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of the BPP, made this assertion in a statement released on Friday by Zira Nagga, Head of Public Relations at the BPP in Abuja.
The statement quoted Dr. Adedokun during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Navy Logistics College, Kano. He emphasized the critical importance of maintaining ethical standards throughout all procurement processes.
Dr. Adedokun described the visit, which sought collaboration for capacity building and training of naval officers in proper procurement procedures, as timely. He assured the Navy of the BPP’s readiness to work collaboratively to ensure the defence sector receives proper training and certification in public procurement.
“If defence procurement is done rightly, it will maximize opportunity cost, scale of preference, and professionalism,” Dr. Adedokun stated. “Taking defence procurement seriously will significantly impact the nation’s security, ensuring procured equipment and ammunition are of higher grade and well-managed.”
He further highlighted that properly trained procurement officers in the military would be better equipped to detect inferior equipment during procurement and possess the capacity to negotiate for quality equipment. “This will lead to a drastic reduction in current security challenges and also help alleviate poverty,” he added.
Dr. Adedokun proposed various training packages for the college and urged the management to utilize the Nigeria Procurement Certification Portal, a centralized digital platform for the training, assessment, and certification of procurement professionals. He also mentioned that the “Villa project” would be revisited in the long run, noting the Navy’s existing compliance efforts.
In response, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Anakwe, Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Logistics College, Kano, pledged his institution’s collaboration with the BPP on procurement training. He stated that this initiative would offer officers the opportunity to become certified in public procurement, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Rear Admiral Anakwe noted that the Nigerian Logistics College, established in 2022, primarily trains Nigerian Navy Logistics Personnel to enhance their knowledge and skills in military logistics. He affirmed that the BPP’s collaboration would strengthen and support the Navy’s initiative to build capacity for best procurement practices in the military.
“The Nigerian Navy Logistics College is set to work out modalities and harmonize its training logistics with the BPP for effective capacity building,” Anakwe concluded, “to ensure that the procurement cadre in the Navy is fully trained and certified.”
