Lagos Procurement Agency Reaches Out to World Bank for Support

Lagos State Public Procurement Agency has appealed to the World Bank for support in a bid to further strengthen its operations and deliver on its statutory functions.

The Agency’s Director-General, Mr. Fatai Idowu Onafowote, made the appeal during a recent meeting with a six-man World Bank delegation led by Ms. Nazaneen Ismail Ali, Procurement Practice Manager for Western and Central African Region.

While expressing gratitude for the World Bank’s past support, Onafowote emphasized the need for additional assistance in key areas such as procurement reforms, system modernization, and full implementation of the e-procurement system.

He also sought support for capacity building, affirmative procurement, SME development, and exchange programs for personnel.

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Highlighting the Agency’s progress, Onafowote noted that 140 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have been onboarded onto the e-procurement platform, with 19 more scheduled for onboarding by year’s end.

He attributed the success to the deployment of technology, which has enhanced transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business, making Lagos an attractive destination for investors.

World Bank Lead Procurement Specialist, Mr. Ishtiak Siddique, emphasized the need for the Agency to modernize its laws to accommodate recent developments, particularly the financial autonomy granted to Local Government Areas by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by World Bank team members, including Ms. Nazaneen Ismail Ali, Mr. Ishtiak Siddique, Mr. Daniel Kajang, Ms. Barbara Ziolkowska, Mr. Akeem Bello, and Mr. Sunday Osoba, as well as Directors and Heads of Departments/Units from the Agency.

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