Impact of Frauds and Corruption on Public Procurement in Nigeria

The study assessed the Impact of Frauds and Corruption on Public Procurement in Nigeria; and dispassionately determined whether or not the common forms and techniques of fraud and corruption have significant effect on public procurement system in Nigeria. The study assessed procurement corruption using long datasets (1999-2024) from recognised secondary sources including Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) scores, Global Competitiveness Reports, and reports from local anti-corruption agencies. Findings show Nigeria’s CPI scores ranged from 10 to 28, reflecting persistently high perceived corruption. The study concluded that procurement corruption in Nigeria is not merely a product of individual misconduct but a reflection of deeper institutional dysfunction, aiding fraud and corruption to undermine public procurement. It therefore, recommends full digitization of processes integrated with open contracting data standards that include compulsory use of NOCOPO by the Federal and State MDAs. To ensure accountability and transparency of public procurement in Nigeria, real-time bidding and contract data must be published in line with Public Procurement Act of 2007.