By Ehis Agbon, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Zaria, Kaduna State — May 31, 2025 — In a bold step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in infrastructure delivery, Kaduna State has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for public officials from relevant Ministries, the Kaduna State Ministry of Planning and Budget, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority (KADPPA), Civil Society Organizations and the Media on how to disclose project data through the newly developed Disclosure Portal facilitated by CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative. The training, held at FABS Hotel, GRA Zaria, from May 30 to June 2, 2025, focused on equipping participants with the skills to publish data using the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) and Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS).
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Hon. Mukhtar Monrovia, emphasized that the training represents a key milestone in Kaduna State’s efforts to institutionalize transparency and accountability in infrastructure projects. He lauded the collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector, which he said is essential for effective governance and improved service delivery. Hon. Monrovia commended the CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative for supporting Kaduna State through a prestigious grant that has facilitated the establishment of a Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) and the development of a state-of-the-art disclosure portal.
Representing the Director General of KADPPA, Engr. Sanusi Aminu Yero, FNSE, FIOGR, MCIPSN, an official highlighted the importance of the training in empowering MDAs to take ownership of data publication. He noted that while KADPPA had previously taken responsibility for uploading project data, the new approach will see MDAs regularly publishing their own data through the OC4IDS portal. This shift, he explained, is a strategic move to embed transparency and accountability across the public sector.
“From now on, KADPPA will serve as a validator and compliance monitor, ensuring that data shared by MDAs is timely, accurate, and adheres to the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard,” the DG’s representative said. He challenged MDAs to ensure that at least 1,000 projects are published in an accessible format to enable effective public oversight and strengthen Kaduna’s reputation as a leader in procurement reform and open governance in Nigeria.
In her keynote address, Hannatu Ahuwan, an MSG member representing the CSO sector and Acting Executive Director of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, stressed the importance of synergy between government, civil society, and the media in achieving transparency and improving service delivery. She urged participants to embrace the training as a vital opportunity to contribute to good governance.
Architect Ahmed Baba, Chairman of the Kaduna State Contractors Association and an MSG member, described the training as timely and commended the state government for introducing the CoST initiative. He noted that involving contractors in the training would enable them to access credible data published by the government, thus enhancing the quality of project delivery.
Also present was Mohammed B. Manko, representing the Kaduna State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), who delivered goodwill messages on behalf of the Acting Chief Information Officer, Musa Bello. Manko reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the disclosure portal.
The Multi-Stakeholder Group’s representative who delivered the welcome address underscored the importance of the portal in enabling the publication of comprehensive infrastructure data and facilitating the implementation of CoST’s Assurance and Social Accountability pillars. She urged participants to engage actively and take full ownership of the portal as a transformative tool for transparency and accountability.
The training concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work collaboratively in setting a new benchmark for transparency in public infrastructure projects, ensuring that Kaduna State continues to lead the way in good governance and integrity.
