The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has called for urgent reforms to tackle procurement fraud in Nigeria, describing it as a major barrier to equitable development and sound governance.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Close-Out/Award Ceremony of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP), held at the Pearl Hotel, Jabi, Abuja, Dr. Aliyu stressed the need to address irregularities in procurement processes across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
In his keynote address titled “Combatting Corruption in Nigeria: The Imperative of Starting with Procurement Fraud,” Aliyu highlighted systemic breaches of the Public Procurement Act, including irregular contract awards, absence of procurement plans, and unapproved expenditures.
Aliyu stated the detrimental impact of corruption, and described it as a “cankerworm” that diverts “resources from the poor to the rich”, which distorts public expenditures, deters foreign investors, and inflates the cost of doing business.
“It is a major barrier to sound and equitable development in a nation,” he said, noting that “At its core, corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain, manifesting as bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, and fraud.”
“By engaging in corrupt practices, individuals prioritize personal interests over the greater good, undermining public trust and the foundations of governance,” he said
Aliyu added that procurement fraud is often characterised by bid rigging, collusion, and defective pricing.
He said, “A significant proportion of corruption cases in Nigeria are linked to procurement fraud, ranging from inflated contract sums to ghost projects. This undermines public service delivery and leaves critical infrastructure projects poorly executed or abandoned.”
Aliyu described procurement as both the foundation of public service delivery and a domain rife with malfeasance.
He noted that through procurement, governments build infrastructure, deliver healthcare, and provide education. But, the lack of adherence to procurement principles, such as transparency and competition exposes the system to abuse.
“The fraud triangle—pressure, opportunity, and rationalization—often drives individuals to manipulate procurement processes for personal gain. When greed overcomes fear, fraud prevails,” Aliyu explained, urging stakeholders to prioritize reforms and oversight in the sector.
However, the ICPC Chairman commended the ICIR’s Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) for exposing procurement irregularities, promoting transparency, and empowering citizens to demand accountability.
He stated that the OCRP has brought procurement processes to public scrutiny by leveraging investigative journalism and citizen engagement.
Aliyu further outlined the ICPC’s strategies to combat procurement fraud, including the Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), which monitors public projects to prevent fund misappropriation.
According to him, the initiative since 2019 has recovered over N50bn and compelled contractors to return to abandoned project sites.
He also said that the Commission’s system reviews have identified loopholes in MDAs’ procurement processes, leading to actionable reforms, and partnerships with civil society and the media which have further enhanced public involvement in anti-corruption efforts.
Aliyu called on government officials, journalists, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders to unite to build a Nigeria where public resources are managed transparently and efficiently.
“Procurement fraud is not insurmountable; it is a call to action for every one of us to stand firm for Nigeria we envision,” he said while urging strengthened oversight mechanisms, citizen empowerment, and ethical leadership.
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Most Corruption Cases Linked To Procurement Fraud — ICPC Boss is first published on The Whistler Newspaper