AfDB , BPP To Strengthen Reform In Energy Sector

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is partnering to strengthen the on-going reform in energy sector to improve productivity and add value to the economy.

The Director General, BPP, Mamman Ahmadu, while welcoming the AfDB team in his office, led by Dr. Patrick Owuori, the Regional Procurement Coordinator, advised them on the way to scale hurdles and succeed in the project.

Mamman pointed out that, emphasis should be placed on quality while implementing the project, adding that, ‘’Government projects need to last for a long time and not just for a short period of time”.

He counselled that, sufficient rules on how the money the organisation is putting on the table for the project should have sufficient rules on how the money is to be expended.

The DG said, the Bureau is working assiduously to achieve the Public Procurement Act, 2007, adding that, procedures and strategies are put in place for spending government funds that will give value for money.

He said, the Bureau is collaborating with the World Bank to put in place E- Procurement mechanism for transparency in all procurement processes, adding that, “we are designing a capacity building sector to design customize areas to train procurement officers in terms of skills and knowledge that will match the best practice in the world’’.

The office, he said, needs more funding to design procurement capacity that can work with energy sector of all procurement across board. He however said, BPP partnership with AfDB would go a long way in enhancing the procurement sector engagement.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Regional Procurement Coordinator, AfDB, Dr. Patrick Owuori said, the new government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the bid to get the Power sector improve its services, has requested that, AfDB develop and redesign a template to improve the energy sector.

Dr. Patrick said, the task would take them 6 to 9 months to redesign, adding that, the entire project will take them a billion USD with the timeline between 2023-2024.

He said their visit to the Bureau was to identify potentials and get updates, adding that, the Bank will use the country’s system and look at some key strategies of some on-going reforms to build and strengthen the energy sector project.

He pointed out that, resources will be disbursed through the consolidated funds and at the implementation of the project to its conclusion; there will be continued monitoring and evaluation.