By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has taken a major step toward modernising its procurement process as the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to incorporate leasing into Nigeria’s public procurement framework.
The partnership was announced in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Adebola Brookslyn, Head of Media and Corporate Communication at ELRA.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, ELRA’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Donald Wokoma, described the agreement as a strategic move to enhance transparency, efficiency, and fiscal prudence in government operations.
According to him, the MoU will enable both agencies to develop clear policy guidelines and standard documentation for lease-based procurement. It will also build the capacity of procurement officers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and integrate ELRA’s registration system into the national procurement workflow for greater accountability.
Wokoma added that pilot leasing projects would be launched in key sectors including health, education, transport, agriculture, and ICT.
He commended the Director-General of BPP and his team for their foresight and collaboration, assuring that ELRA remains committed to ensuring every lease transaction under the partnership delivers measurable value to national development.
The ELRA chief further explained that the collaboration would help reduce fiscal pressure on government budgets, improve service delivery, and strengthen asset management—aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the nation’s drive for economic diversification and sustainable growth.
On his part, BPP’s Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, lauded ELRA for initiating the collaboration and reaffirmed BPP’s commitment to aligning Nigeria’s procurement system with global best practices.
“This MoU is timely and strategic. Leasing provides a viable alternative financing mechanism that supports service delivery while safeguarding public resources. By working together with ELRA, we are ensuring that leasing transactions in the public sector are not only transparent but also deliver real value for money,” Adedokun said.
He noted that the partnership would strengthen institutional capacity within MDAs and enhance accountability in public expenditure management, especially in ensuring compliance.
“Those who will go into the leasing sector must show clearly that they are registered with ELRA. BPP will ensure compliance without which a Certificate of No Objection will not be issued by the Bureau,” he added.
Under the Equipment Leasing Act, 2015, ELRA regulates and registers all leasing transactions in Nigeria to ensure credibility, accountability, and investor confidence.
Similarly, the Public Procurement Act mandates BPP to promote competitiveness and value-for-money in government transactions.
The new collaboration harmonises both mandates, establishing a unified process for all lease-related procurements to be duly registered—marking a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to achieve efficient and sustainable public procurement.
