Delta wins praise: BPP, ICPC hail Oborevwori’s Govt as “trailblazer” for opening books to anti-graft scrutiny

In a country where “government secrecy” is the default, Delta State just did the opposite. And Abuja noticed.

The Bureau of Public Procurement and ICPC walked into Asaba on Wednesday. They didn’t come with queries or audits. They came with commendation.

—“Delta has opened its doors”—

BPP Director-General Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun stood before Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, who represented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and delivered the verdict: Delta is leading the pack.

“Delta State has opened its doors for the ICPC to conduct peer reviews. This shows confidence in its governance structures and alignment with global best practices in public accountability,” Adedokun said.

Peer review. Voluntary. No court order. No scandal forcing it. Delta invited ICPC to look under the hood of its procurement and spending. In Nigeria, that’s rare. That’s why BPP called it “trailblazer” behavior for sub-national governments.

—Why it matters now—

Adedokun tied it straight to Abuja’s biggest headaches. When states manage money well, he said, pressure on the federal government drops. More focus can go to defence, security, national priorities—the things failing because states bleed cash through shoddy contracts.

The visit also carried a message from the top: It aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive for BPP to work with all 36 states + LGAs. Goal? Better procurement, better budget execution, better projects. All under the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

 

promise: They won’t stop at Delta. “Continuous engagement with sub-national governments to share best practices and address challenges in capital project implementation,” Adedokun affirmed.

—Oborevwori’s response: “We don’t tolerate shabby jobs”—

Deputy Governor Onyeme received the praise, then raised the bar. Speaking for the governor, he said Delta’s standard is simple: value for money and quality execution.

“We do not tolerate shabby jobs here. We believe the two-day engagement will further strengthen our systems,” Onyeme assured BPP and ICPC.

Translation: If contractors deliver poor work, Delta won’t clap for them. And now with ICPC watching, the pressure just got higher.

—The bigger picture—

This isn’t about one state getting an award. It’s about trust. For years, Nigerians have asked: “Where does our money go?” Delta’s answer: “Come and see.”

If other states follow, procurement stops being a black box. Projects stop being abandoned after budget approval. And “accountability” stops being just a campaign slogan.

For now, Delta gets the applause. BPP and ICPC left Asaba with one message: Openness pays. And in the age of Renewed Hope, it might just be the new blueprint.