Over 90% of Nigeria’s Public Sector Corruption Tied to Procurement and Contract Fraud – EFCC
Nigeria’s fight against corruption is facing a huge challenge in the public sector, with procurement and contract fraud accounting for over 90% of the country’s corruption and fraud cases, according to the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.
Speaking at a meeting on Friday, January 17, 2025, with the newly-appointed Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Olukoyede outlined the scale of the problem, highlighting the serious implications of fraud on Nigeria’s infrastructure and development.
“In the EFCC, we handle both private and public sector fraud. When it comes to the public sector, which is one of our major problems, we discovered that contract and procurement fraud takes up more than 90% of the volume of public sector fraud,” Olukoyede said during the meeting at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters.
He elaborated on how fraud manifests in various unethical practices such as commingling, contract splitting, and other corrupt activities. These practices, he stressed, are at the root of many of Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
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“Infrastructure-wise and all other developmental problems are attributable to contract and procurement fraud. It lies with you and with me to make a change,” Olukoyede urged. “If we can work together, we will be able to leave this country better than we met it.”
The EFCC chairman called for a united effort in combating corruption, emphasizing that both the public and private sectors must work collaboratively to create lasting change.
Olukoyede also stressed the critical need for stronger cooperation between the EFCC and the BPP, particularly in the areas of project implementation and monitoring. He expressed confidence in the new leadership at the BPP, believing it would pave the way for more effective collaboration.
“I like the commitment, the new spirit you’ve brought into the agency. We are going to work together. We are going to collaborate for the sake of this country and ensure that the 2025 budget is well implemented and executed,” Olukoyede remarked. “There is no hiding place for BPP. And there is no hiding from the EFCC. That’s the truth.”
Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, who took over as Director-General of the BPP, reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s procurement processes and supporting the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts.
“We are here to reassure you and your team that we are committed to making your job easier,” Adedokun assured Olukoyede. “We want to make sure that the EFCC can trust our documents without any doubts. The 220 million Nigerians deserve to sleep soundly knowing that procurement is being done transparently.”
Adedokun outlined his vision for the BPP’s future, emphasizing transparency and openness in the procurement process. He pledged that the Bureau would provide trustworthy documents to aid EFCC investigations and decision-making, and that it would work tirelessly to ensure that every expenditure on goods, works, and services is fully accounted for.
“We want to give Nigerians the assurance that it’s no longer business as usual. We have started a new chapter,” Adedokun stated, underlining the Bureau’s mission to use procurement as a tool for good governance.
