Tinubu Approves Strict Debarment Policy to Blacklist Erring Contractors and Curb Project Abandonment
Tinubu Approves Strict Debarment Policy to Blacklist Erring Contractors and Curb Project Abandonment
President Bola Tinubu’s newly approved Contractor Debarment Policy marks a significant turning point in Nigeria’s public procurement landscape.
Announced by Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), on December 29, 2025, the policy is designed to permanently dismantle the culture of project abandonment and shoddy infrastructure delivery that has historically drained the nation’s resources.
At the heart of this policy is the power to blacklist erring companies not only within Nigeria but also on an international scale.
This means that any contractor found guilty of collecting government funds and subsequently failing to complete a project or delivering work that fails to meet quality standards will face global repercussions.
The BPP has stated that it will actively recommend these sanctions to international bodies, ensuring that companies cannot fail in Nigeria and simply move their operations to another country.
The policy also serves as an incentive for high-performing firms. While it takes a hardline stance against negligence, it prioritizes and rewards contractors who demonstrate competence and adhere to strict technical standards.
To support this, the BPP has introduced a Price Intelligence Unit that benchmarks project costs to prevent over-inflation.
This unit has already proven its effectiveness, reportedly saving the Federal Government approximately ₦1.1 trillion over the past year by ensuring that projects are priced realistically and transparently.
In tandem with these punitive measures, the administration is enforcing a “Nigeria First” policy to bolster local capacity.
This initiative mandates that federal agencies prioritize domestic manufacturers and contractors, requiring a formal justification for any foreign procurement decisions.
To make the process more inclusive, the government is also introducing community-based procurement programs specifically designed to create economic opportunities for women, youth, and other vulnerable populations.
To ensure the policy is applied fairly, a structured debarment procedure has been established.
This includes a notification process where contractors are given a window to respond to allegations and present mitigating evidence before a final decision is made by a Sanctions Board chaired by the Attorney General.
Contractors also retain the right to appeal any debarment in the Federal High Court.
By combining these rigorous checks with a massive training program that has already certified over 4,000 procurement officers, the government aims to transform the procurement sector from a “bottleneck” of corruption into a transparent enabler of national development.
