Nigeria Saves N173 Billion Through Open Contracting Portal in First Half of 2025 – BPP

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has announced that the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) helped the federal government save over N173 billion between January and June 2025. This achievement is credited to improved transparency and price intelligence in public procurement processes.

The Director-General of BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, made this known in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). The agreement aims to integrate locally manufactured products into government procurement through NOCOPO.

According to Adedokun, the savings amounted to about $155 million and €1.7 million. He emphasized that these were not just theoretical figures but real cost reductions that allowed for increased spending on critical infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Adedokun highlighted that the partnership with NASENI would help align procurement practices with the federal government’s Nigeria First Policy. The MoU will ensure that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies prioritize NASENI’s locally produced items—including tractors, tablets, drones, and solar systems—that have been certified by regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and NAFDAC.

A joint technical committee will be established to synchronize NASENI’s production timelines with procurement cycles. This step aims to ensure that government procurement remains efficient while supporting local manufacturing capabilities.

Speaking on behalf of NASENI, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO Khalil Halilu said the partnership would boost industrialization, attract investment, and give competitive preference to firms working with NASENI. He revealed that over 900 companies had applied to partner with NASENI in the last year and a half, resulting in more than 50 products that are ready for market adoption.

Ongoing NASENI projects include a renewable energy park in Keffi and the construction of additional manufacturing facilities in Abuja’s Industrial Park and Technology Village. These projects are part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s local manufacturing base.

The Nigeria First Policy, launched by President Bola Tinubu in May 2025, aims to reduce reliance on foreign products and promote domestic content in federal contracts. The policy mandates MDAs to prioritize Nigerian-made goods and services unless there are no certified local alternatives. In such cases, a written waiver from the BPP is required.

To ensure compliance, MDAs have been directed to revise their procurement strategies. Failure to comply could result in contract cancellations and disciplinary measures against the responsible officials.

The BPP has also been tasked with enforcing the following actions to support the policy:

• Implement guidelines that prioritize Nigerian products and services

• Develop a framework for local content compliance

• Maintain a national registry of certified local manufacturers and service providers

• Oversee procurement officers across MDAs to ensure policy adherence

With NOCOPO proving its effectiveness in cutting costs and improving transparency, and with NASENI’s growing role in local production, Nigeria is taking significant steps toward economic self-reliance and industrial growth.