The director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adedokun, has urged the emergence of procurement lawyers to address corruption and procurement deficits in Nigeria.

Mr Adedokun said this in a statement by his spokesman, Zira Nagga, on Friday, at the 65th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Enugu.

He said that lawyers must take ownership of the standard bidding document if procurement loopholes are to be eliminated and public resources are to be used more effectively for national development.

The director-general recommended specialised training for lawyers on revised bidding documents, contract drafting, and procurement reforms to build capacity and curb corrupt practices within the system.

They stated that procurement remained a strategic enabler for national development, requiring transparent practices, anti-corruption measures, and stakeholder collaboration to deliver value to citizens.

On infrastructure, Mr Adedokun projected that Nigeria requires $100 billion annually and approximately $3 trillion over 30 years to close the country’s significant infrastructure gap.

He warned that without governance reforms, transparency, and institutional capacity, increased funding could result in waste, corruption, and policy inconsistencies.

Mr Adedokun urged the NBA to champion procurement reforms, stating that procurement lawyers will play a vital role in ensuring accountability and bridging the infrastructure deficit.

“Procurement is a strategic enabler for national development, ensuring efficient resource utilisation and delivering value to citizens. There is a need for strong anti-corruption measures, transparent procurement, and stakeholder engagement to bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit,” he said.

(NAN)