By Nana Musa

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Emeka Obi, says collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD) will improve project implementation.

 

He stated this during a training programme on AFD Procurement Guidelines, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

 

The programme was organised by the AFD in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

 

Obi, represented by Director of Economic Growth, Auwal Mohammed, said both agencies aimed to enhance implementation at federal and sub-national levels.

 

He added that the Nigerian Government and AFD remained committed to supporting projects to achieve their objectives.

 

Obi stressed that procurement was vital to project delivery and urged participants to take the training seriously.

 

“Procurement involves sourcing, purchasing, receiving, and inspecting goods and services needed for operations, including materials, software, and office supplies,” he said.

 

He warned that procurement is often overlooked until challenges arise, making prevention more important than cure.

 

“That is why we always say, prevention is better than cure,” Obi noted.

 

He explained the training aimed to equip officers with full understanding of AFD procurement procedures and processes.

 

This knowledge, he said, would support informed decisions about products or services – considering price, quality, quantity, and timing.

 

Obi noted the training would also address consultancies, goods, and works contracts covered by the guidelines.

 

He added that there would be a comparative review of Nigerian Procurement Regulations and AFD Procurement Guidelines.

 

He praised AFD for its support towards the government’s development goals and public service delivery.

 

AFD Country Director in Nigeria, Xavier Muron, said two billion euros in development projects were ongoing in the country.

 

Muron said AFD had operated in Nigeria since 2008 and had funded over three billion euros in projects to date.

 

He noted the current projects include infrastructure, education, vocational training, water, and healthcare.

 

“Some of the projects were concluding, while others were just beginning.

 

“Our financing has grown. Currently, two billion euros are in active investments across Nigeria,” Muron said.

 

He encouraged implementing agencies to actively engage in the training for effective project delivery.

 

Muron said sectors supported include infrastructure, water, governance, education, and vocational training – which is a new focus.

 

“Agriculture is not yet covered, but we plan to expand with value chain and growth programmes,” he added.

 

He emphasised that procurement was critical for the success of AFD-funded initiatives.

 

The training, he said, aimed to build capacity among implementation partners on AFD procurement standards.

 

“Our guidelines follow international best practices and help partners comply with procurement requirements,” Muron explained.

 

The training would also allow partners to share experiences, challenges, and possible areas of improvement.

 

“We want Nigerian agencies to fully understand our procurement rules to avoid project delays,” he stated.

 

Muron warned that incorrect procurement procedures could slow down programme delivery.

 

“We want you updated on regulations so we don’t waste time due to procurement setbacks,” he added.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training aligns Nigeria’s procurement standards with those of international donors like the World Bank.

 

AFD Procurement Specialist, Mr Antonio Velasco, said the training would cover finance and consultancy procurement procedures.

 

He said participants would be trained on bidding documents, applicable rules, and procurement security.

 

NAN also reports that the training included AFD staff, government officials, and state-level MDA representatives. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Josephine Obute / Kamal Tayo Oropo