Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged professionals and stakeholders to promote and enhance capacity for a strong, transparent procurement system in Nigeria.

The governor made the call on Saturday in a statement by his media aide, Gboyega Akosile.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State government had consistently supported and adopted a coordinated, transparent procurement process for several years.

This followed a courtesy visit by Ben Farrell, Global CEO of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), to Lagos House, Marina. Also present was Sam Achampong, CIPS regional director for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

“In Lagos, we strongly advocate for a transparent and well-organised procurement system.

“We are proud to be among the first governments to institutionalise and commence a public procurement process,” the governor said.

He recalled being part of the administration 15 years ago when discussions on public procurement reforms began.

“We were quick to establish the necessary agencies to guide the process,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of building and expanding capacity to strengthen procurement processes.

He noted that Lagos State had valuable experiences to share with CIPS and professionals globally.

“It is important to ensure we implement procurement properly. We fully understand the value of a robust system.

“A good procurement process enables better planning and more effective negotiation,” the governor stated.

In his remarks, Mr Farrell expressed CIPS’ commitment to building capacity and competence in Nigeria’s procurement sector.

“We operate in 180 countries and share best practices globally,” Mr Farrell said, adding that CIPS plans to establish a permanent presence in Nigeria.

Mr Farrell said the aim is to support both public and private sectors in enhancing procurement standards.

He explained that spreading procurement knowledge and skills would greatly benefit Nigeria.

(NAN)