LAGOS RESTATES COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

 

By Kayode Olopade 

Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has reaffirmed the State Governments commitment to transparency, efficiency and adherence to international best practices in public procurement.

The Governor made this known while receiving the Global Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), Mr. Ben Farrell, during a courtesy visit of the CIPS Chief to the Governor at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that due process in public procurement is a strategic tool for good governance and sustainable development.

He pledged that his administration will continue to align with global standards and leverage on partnerships to improve public procurement processes and service delivery across the State.

Expressing delight at receiving the CIPS CEO, the Governor commended the professional body for its efforts in promoting international best practices and professional standards in procurement and supply chain management worldwide.

Governor Sanwo-Olu underscored the importance of the creation of a robust Procurement Officers cadre within the State Public Service, pointing out that Procurement Officers should continue to work in harmony with the State Governments goals to achieve desired outcomes and ensure value for money in the delivery of public goods and services.

He further emphasised the State Governments commitment to continuous capacity building and professional development of Procurement Officers, towards reinforcing the drive for good governance in Lagos State.

In his remarks, Mr. Ben Farrell praised the Lagos State Government for its dedication to transparency and good governance, noting that Lagos is a leading hub for commercial activities and an investment destination in Africa.

Mr. Farrell expressed the Institutes readiness to collaborate with the State Government, particularly in th area of capacity building to enhance professionalism among Procurement Officers in the State.

In company of Mr. Farrell were the Director for Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific at CIPS, Mr. Sam Achampong, Education Liaison Officer, CIPS Nigeria, Mr. Ekene Odimegwu; Vice Chairman, CIPS Nigeria, Mrs. Omotunde Oyedeji and other senior CIPS officials.

Also present at the meeting were key Lagos State officials, including the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote; Director of Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance Department of the Agency, Mrs. Bola Adeniran and other Directors of the Agency and key members of CIPS Nigeria.

In a related development, Governor Sanwo-Olu, has called on procurement professionals to support the State Government in making Lagos a model not only of trade, but also of trust, transparency and transformation.

Governor Sanwo- Olu made the call while delivering a keynote address at a symposium organised by CIPS Nigeria, held at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Governor Sanwo- Olu who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in the State, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, described procurement and supply as critical arteries of the supply chain system.

He highlighted the State Government's strategic investments in smarter logistics, including new infrastructure such as the Lekki Deep Seaport, aimed at fostering transparency and efficiency in public procurement.

Mr. Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos accounts for over 60% of Nigerias industrial and commercial activities and significantly contributes to the countrys non-oil exports, adding that Lagos is described as a place where ambition meets opportunity, where supply chains are formed and expanded, and where innovation is tested daily against real-world complexities.

We are not just playing a role in West African trade; we are setting the pace, he stated.

These achievements, he said, are the results of deliberate investments in infrastructure such as seaports, roads, rail lines and technology, coupled with policy reforms designed to enhance the ease of doing businessall powered by the entrepreneurial spirit of millions of Lagosians.

Governor Sanwo-Olu further explained that the State Governments goal is to position Lagos as not just Nigerias economic heartbeat, but as West Africas mist reliable and resilient trade hub, a place where goods move swiftly, policies are coherent and partnerships thrive.

He called for the expertise, ethics and professionalism of institutions, including CIPS, to help build sustainable, inclusive and future-ready systems.

Let us work together to make Lagos a model not just of trade, but also of trust, transparency and transformation, he urged.

The Governor commended the leadership and members of CIPS for their dedication in creating a remarkable platform that will elevate professional standards and contribute significantly to collective success.

He expressed optimism that the symposiums outcomes would strengthen both CIPS and the economic advancement of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

Delivering a lecture at the symposium, the Director-General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, reiterated the State Governments commitment to promoting strategic procurement to attract investors. 

He highlighted the State Government's efforts to make Lagos more livable through extensive investment in infrastructure aimed at meeting the growing populations needs and reducing population congestion in the State

Also contributing to the discourse, the Global Chief Executive Officer of CIPS, Mr. Ben Farrell, noted that the procurement profession is a powerful tool that could assist in ensuring efficiency and cost reduction in the provision of goods and services if due process is followed.