By Ehinome Agbon and Osehise Agbon, Kaduna | 17 December 2025
Kaduna State has taken a decisive step toward deepening transparency and accountability in public infrastructure delivery with the official launch of the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) portal, becoming the first sub-national government in Nigeria to adopt the global standard for infrastructure disclosure.
The portal was unveiled at a high-level stakeholders’ event in Kaduna on Tuesday 17 December 2025, bringing together senior government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector actors, professional bodies and the media.
Representing Governor Uba Sani, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mukhtar Ahmed Monrovia, described the launch as a landmark reform that signals a shift toward open, citizen-centred governance.
“This is more than the unveiling of a digital platform. It marks the dawn of a new culture of openness in Kaduna State, where transparency is no longer optional but mandatory,” the Commissioner said.
Opening Up Infrastructure Data
The OC4IDS portal allows the public to track infrastructure projects across their entire lifecycle — from project identification and planning to procurement, implementation and completion. It is designed to provide timely, reliable and accessible data that enables citizens, civil society groups and the private sector to monitor how public resources are allocated and utilised.
In his welcome address, Engr. Sanusi Aminu Yero (FNSE), the Director General of the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA) said the portal builds on existing procurement reforms and the adoption of open contracting principles, offering a structured platform that strengthens accountability and value for money.
According to him, the initiative will help detect early warning signs such as project delays and cost overruns, while also supporting evidence-based public engagement.
“By making infrastructure data open and accessible, we are rebuilding public trust and ensuring that projects deliver real value to the people of Kaduna State,” he said.
International Commendation
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, Evelyn Hernandez, Head of Members, described Kaduna’s achievement as historic.
She noted that Kaduna State is currently Nigeria’s only sub-national member of CoST, commending the government for combining project-level and contract-level data and for issuing a formal disclosure mandate to ensure consistency.
“Kaduna has shown remarkable leadership. The focus now should be on sustained data quality, consistent publication and the practical use of data to improve governance and service delivery,” she said.
Broad Stakeholder Support
The Managing Director of the Kaduna State Roads Agency, Dr. Abdullahi Baba Ahmed, also praised the initiative, describing it as critical to infrastructure development and pledging institutional support to ensure its success.
A detailed technical presentation by Tara Jeremiah Wyah, the Kaduna State CoST Manager, highlighted the four core pillars of the initiative: multi-stakeholder collaboration, disclosure, independent assurance, and social accountability. The presentation emphasised the importance of bringing government, civil society and the private sector to the same table to improve infrastructure outcomes.
From Reform to Culture Change
In the keynote address delivered on behalf of the Governor, the administration reaffirmed its commitment to embedding transparency into governance systems through a formal disclosure mandate, making compliance with OC4IDS compulsory across relevant institutions.
The Governor’s representative stressed that infrastructure is central to economic growth and social development, but warned that limited access to information had historically undermined accountability.
“By embracing a world-class standard like OC4IDS, Kaduna State is positioning itself as a national reference point for infrastructure transparency,” he said.
A Model for Other States
With the launch of the OC4IDS portal, Kaduna State joins a growing list of global jurisdictions using open data to strengthen infrastructure governance. Stakeholders at the event expressed optimism that the initiative would not only improve service delivery but also inspire other states to replicate Kaduna’s model.
Participants were encouraged to actively engage with the portal, use the data responsibly and contribute to holding public institutions accountable.
As Kaduna moves from reform to implementation, the state’s leadership in infrastructure transparency appears set to redefine how public projects are planned, executed and monitored in Nigeria.
