The Federal Government has announced the enforcement of the Equipment Leasing Registration Authority (ELRA) Certificate as a mandatory eligibility criterion for all public procurement processes involving the lease of equipment.
The directive was officially communicated via a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, fnim, CON, with Ref. No. 59780/S.2/B/584, dated August 12, 2026, which explicitly mandated all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and all Procuring Entities to make evidence of registration with ELRA a mandatory requirement for public procurement processes for the leasing, hiring or provision of equipment, and as part of measures to strengthen transparency, efficiency, value-for-money and professionalism in public procurement and equipment leasing practices.
The Federal Government further directed the MDAs to incorporate compliance with the registration of lease agreements, in line with Section 13 of the Equipment Leasing Act, 2015, as an additional eligibility and responsiveness criterion for bids involving equipment leasing.
In line with the provision of this circular, the Director-General/CEO, Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, FCIPS has called on all MDAs and Procuring Entities to ensure full compliance with this requirement in their procurement activities, as the circular is meant to strengthen regulatory compliance, promote safety and quality standards, while eliminating unregistered and unregulated equipment leasing practices within public procurement.
Dr. Adedokun emphasised that subject to the SGF circular, advertisements and solicitation documents for new projects and programmes, including prequalification exercises, financial bids and combined procurement exercises—are expected to clearly specify the requirement for prospective bidders involved in equipment leasing to submit evidence of ELRA registration, adding that no procurement approval, contract awards or execution would be recognised or granted in respect of an equipment leasing procedure that does not comply with this requirement.
All MDAs, Prospective Government Contractors, and Procuring Entities have therefore been directed to give the circular wide circulation and ensure strict compliance, with appropriate administrative and regulatory sanctions to be applied for non-compliance.
The development further underscores the Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of a properly regulated equipment leasing sector in supporting effective public procurement, responsible asset management and sustainable economic development.
Signed:
Ngozi C. Anyaelezu
Ag. Head, Public Relations
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
October 21, 2026
