The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fairness and accountability in the procurement of drugs and health commodities as part of efforts to strengthen public confidence, ensure value for money and guarantee the availability of quality medicines across the State’s healthcare facilities.

Speaking at the Ogun State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (OGDHCMA) bid opening ceremony at Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the State had progressively enhanced transparency in procurement of health commodities and drugs over the years, assuring that the process would remain open to feedback and improvement.

She disclosed that, in line with federal directives, the State had begun establishing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with selected pharmaceutical companies for the supply of essential products, explaining that this approach would allow manufacturers to forecast multi-year demand and procure raw materials and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) more confidently, thereby supporting Nigeria’s drive toward local pharmaceutical production.

Dr. Coker stressed that Ogun State would continue to prioritise quality over the cheapest pricing in its procurement decisions, warning suppliers against attempts to undercut competitors with substandard products.

"I am using this opportunity to inform all over vendors that all procured drugs will be subjected to rigorous testing at the State’s High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. (HPLC) Laboratory to ensure quality and safeguard public health. That said, you know how much I value feedback. As such, endeavor to report any perceived unfairness because this process was designed to be open, fair and credible," she added.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to building a transparent and resilient procurement system, the Commissioner expressed optimism that the 2025 process would be an improvement on previous exercises, reiterating the State’s dedication towards ensuring partnerships that promote, “Patronise us, Pay us and Protect us” under the Public-Private Partnership framework.

In her welcome address, Executive Secretary of OGDHCMA, Dr. Olufunke Oyeneye, described the bid opening as a significant milestone in strengthening the State’s health supply chain and ensuring the steady availability of safe, quality and affordable drugs across all healthcare facilities.

She reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to the principles of transparency, fairness and accountability in line with the Ogun State Public Procurement Law (Amendment) 2021 and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) regulations, while commending the participating bidders for their professionalism and commitment to advancing the health sector in Ogun State.

The ceremony drew participation from pharmaceutical companies, health commodities manufacturers, development partners and other key stakeholders in the health sector who commended the State Government’s commitment to a transparent and accountable procurement process.