The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called for a united front against procurement fraud in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Close-out and Journalism Award Ceremony of the International Centre for Investigative Journalism (ICIR) Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu emphasized the need for stakeholders from all sectors to collaborate in fostering accountability and combating procurement fraud.
This was disclosed in a press statement, signed by the Spokesperson of the Commission, Demola Bakare on Wednesday, 11 December
“Transparent and honest procurement processes are vital for enabling governments to deliver infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other essential services to citizens,” Dr. Aliyu said.
He identified procurement fraud as a major threat to effective governance and efficient use of public funds, stressing the urgent need to address these issues to create a system of accountability
The ICPC has implemented several initiatives to tackle procurement fraud, including the System Study and Review, the Constituency and Executive Tracking Initiative (CEPTI), and collaborations with civil society organizations and the media.
These measures have yielded significant results, including the recovery of ₦50.37 billion between 2019 and 2023 from contractors who abandoned project sites
Dr. Aliyu proposed further actions to curb procurement fraud, including fostering integrity among public service leaders, strengthening oversight mechanisms, strictly enforcing procurement laws, and imposing penalties for violations.
The Executive Director of ICIR, Mr. Dayo Aiyetan, also emphasized the critical need to tackle budgetary and procurement fraud to fight corruption in Nigeria.