A three-member delegation from the World Bank concluded a five-day visit to the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA) on Thursday, aimed at evaluating the state’s pioneering electronic government procurement (e-GP) system. The visit, which began on February 17, underscores Lagos’ growing reputation as a trailblazer in digital governance and procurement reform across Nigeria and the region.
The World Bank team, led by Procurement Specialist AkinOnimole, was received by LSPPA Director-General Fatai Idowu Onafowote and his staff at the agency’s headquarters in Ikeja. The delegation’s mission was to assess the operational efficiency, transparency, and scalability of the e-GP system, which Lagos has been developing since 2018. The visit included live demonstrations of the platform and on-the-spot evaluations at three ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) already integrated into the system.
Onimole, a former General Manager of the LSPPA, expressed admiration for the agency’s progress. “I am delighted by the remarkable achievements made here, particularly in the e-Government Procurement system,” he said during a briefing. “The practical demonstrations we witnessed today were highly impressive, and it’s clear Lagos is setting a standard for others to follow.” He described the agency as a “trailblazer” and affirmed the World Bank’s readiness to provide further support to enhance the system and position it as a model for other states and countries.
The e-GP system, a cornerstone of Lagos’ digital transformation agenda, has onboarded 159 MDAs and registered over 3,700 contractors as service providers, according to Onafowote. “We began this journey in 2018, and today, we’re seeing the fruits of that effort in improved transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business,” he told the delegation. The system streamlines procurement processes, reduces human intervention, and ensures accountability—key factors that have bolstered Lagos’ appeal to investors and earned praise from international partners.
Richard Migambi, a Rwanda-based World Bank e-GP consultant and member of the team, emphasized the visit’s purpose: “We’re here to understand exactly where Lagos stands with the deployment and operation of this system. What we’ve seen so far is a robust framework that could inspire replication elsewhere.” The third delegate, whose identity was not disclosed, joined in inspecting the system’s functionality across the selected MDAs, where officials showcased real-time procurement workflows.
The visit builds on a history of collaboration between the World Bank and the LSPPA. In September 2024, a six-member World Bank delegation, led by Procurement Practice Manager Nazaneen Ismail Ali, met with Onafowote to discuss support for procurement reforms and system modernization. At that time, the agency appealed for capacity-building initiatives and assistance in fully rolling out the e-GP platform statewide—requests that appear to be gaining traction with this latest engagement.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has championed the e-GP system as part of its broader vision to make Lagos a smart, technology-driven megacity. The initiative aligns with the state’s “Greater Lagos Rising” campaign, which prioritizes innovation and governance efficiency. Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, who oversees economic planning, hailed the World Bank’s visit as a vote of confidence in Lagos’ efforts. “This collaboration validates our commitment to leveraging technology for accountability and progress,” he said in a statement.
The World Bank team’s findings are expected to inform future technical and financial assistance to the LSPPA. Onimole hinted at the possibility of expanding support to include training programs and system upgrades, though specifics remain under discussion. “Lagos has laid a strong foundation,” he noted. “Our goal is to help build on that and share this success story with the world.”
As the delegation wrapped up its visit, Onafowote expressed gratitude for the World Bank’s partnership. “Their positive response and willingness to support us further will accelerate our mission to deliver a procurement system that serves as a benchmark for excellence,” he said. With the state planning to onboard additional MDAs by year-end, the LSPPA is poised to cement Lagos’ status as a leader in e-governance on the continent.
The visit comes amid growing international interest in Nigeria’s economic reforms, with Lagos often at the forefront. As the World Bank team departs, their assessment could pave the way for deeper collaboration, potentially transforming public procurement not just in Lagos, but across Nigeria.
