World Bank team assesses Lagos’ e-Government Procurement system
Quick Read
During the visit, the World Bank team witnessed a live demonstration of the e-GP system by Agency officials and assessed its usage at three key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs): the Ministry of Health, the Office of Infrastructure, and the Office of Drainage and Water Resources.
A delegation from the World Bank has conducted a five-day assessment of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency’s electronic-Government Procurement (e-GP) system, examining its implementation and effectiveness in enhancing transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
Leading the delegation, World Bank Procurement Specialist Engr. Akin Onimole described the visit as a follow-up to a previous engagement by the Bank’s Regional Manager.
He lauded the Agency’s progress in digitising procurement processes and expressed confidence in its potential to serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
During the visit, the World Bank team witnessed a live demonstration of the e-GP system by Agency officials and assessed its usage at three key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs): the Ministry of Health, the Office of Infrastructure, and the Office of Drainage and Water Resources.
The team also engaged with registered service providers to evaluate the system’s accessibility and efficiency.
World Bank e-GP Consultant Richard Migambi noted that while the system is user-friendly, further enhancements could improve its performance.
Similarly, Procurement Specialist Akeem Bello commended the Agency’s achievements but recommended updates to procurement guidelines to reflect emerging trends.
Welcoming the delegation, Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, highlighted the state’s strides in digital procurement since 2018.
He disclosed that 159 MDAs and over 3,700 contractors are currently registered on the e-GP platform, with efforts underway to integrate it with the Lagos State Government Revenue Portal for greater efficiency.
At the MDAs visited, officials attested to the system’s impact.
Engr. Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage and Water Resources, credited the platform with streamlining procurement and reducing operational costs.
Dr. Oluwatoyin Ijimakinwa of the Ministry of Health and Engr. Tokunbo Oyenuga of the Office of Infrastructure also acknowledged its role in improving service delivery.
As part of its assessment, the World Bank team engaged with service providers, including Xenon Construction Limited, AT & S Investment, and Pheman Peniel Consultant Limited, to gain insights into the system’s functionality from the contractor’s perspective.
Comments