How do state government tenders work in Nigeria?
The federal Public Procurement Act 2007 covers federal agencies. States make their own procurement laws and set up their own agencies, so a state tender can follow different rules, ask for a different registration, and be published somewhere else.
What changes in a state tender
- The law. Each state's own procurement law sets its methods, thresholds and timelines.
- The agency. A state procurement agency or bureau oversees the process, and often publishes tenders and guidance.
- Registration. Many states keep their own register of contractors, and their tenders ask for current registration with the state, not (or not only) the federal IRR.
- Where it's advertised. On the state agency's site, ministry sites and in newspapers.
Example: Lagos State
The Lagos State Public Procurement Agency was set up in 2012 under the state's public procurement law. It publishes an online tenders journal and runs contractor registration. Its 2021 registration circular lists what it asks for, including:
- CAC registration documents;
- directors' tax compliance and Development Levy for three years;
- a company profile and the CVs of key staff.
Other states have their own lists. Check the state agency's site before you bid, and register early: registration can take longer than a tender's bidding period.
Local government and state agencies
Local government councils, state universities, water corporations and state-owned agencies also buy goods, works and services. Their tenders usually follow the state's rules and appear in newspapers and on the state's sites.
Find state tenders by state
TendaRadar sorts every open tender by state, from state procurement portals, newspaper adverts and national portals. Start with Abuja (FCT) or Lagos State, or choose a state from the list at the bottom of all open tenders. Pick your states when you sign up and new ones arrive on WhatsApp.
Official sources
- Lagos State Public Procurement Agency
- Lagos PPA contractor registration circular 030 (2021)
- Public Procurement Act 2007, full text (copy published by NERC)
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, and each tender's own advert and bidding documents set its requirements: always read them, and check with the buyer or a professional if you're unsure.