Procurement processes in Nigeria are often opaque and difficult for the public to access or understand. Citizens barely have no way of knowing how public contracts were awarded, and journalists struggle to uncover discrepancies hidden in hard copy procurement documents. This is as a result of manual, outdated and opaque processes allowing loopholes, inflated contracts, and weak compliance to thrive, leaving communities disconnected from the very services meant to serve them.

“The truth is, people don’t ask questions when there’s nothing to see. Give them the facts, and you’ll see how quickly they begin to speak up.”- Richard, Plateau CFA

This began to change with the introduction of the AI in Open Contracting Chatbot; an innovative platform piloted in Edo, Ekiti, and Plateau States by Accountability Lab (AL) Nigeria. It was designed to extract information directly from physical contracts and convert it into structured procurement data with minimal effort. The automation accelerated the publishing process and ensured the consistent availability of accurate procurement information for public scrutiny, which in turn promoted increased citizen participation in governance processes. It also provided tools for understanding public procurement procedures and applied the red-flag methodology to detect potential irregularities, enabling citizens, journalists, and civil society organizations to engage more actively in governance. The tool turned what was once complicated, inaccessible data into clear, actionable information that citizens and journalists can engage with directly. Now, the power to monitor contracts, track projects, and call out irregularities was no longer exclusive to contractors and procurement officers alone, it was in the hands of the community members.

Procurement officers adopted the portal but it was the citizens and journalists who truly felt its impact. Journalists could now access detailed procurement data without waiting in queues or navigating bureaucratic hurdles. Community Frontline Associates (CFAs) used the portal to monitor community projects, ensuring that promised public projects were actually delivered. In Plateau, engagement grew steadily as stakeholders used the portal to verify contracts and track project progress. Even in Edo, where a leadership transition slowed data uploads, journalists and CSOs participating in radio programs continued to utilize the platform to spotlight some of the government projects available on the AI tool. This led to significant, tangible results. One of the most notable impacts is the restoration of the Illawe Road, a long-neglected project that only gained attention after procurement data became more accessible and community members were able to spotlight the delays. Beyond this, the increased visibility of the tool prompted state governments to take concrete steps toward addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits. 

‘’We used to feel left out of the process. Now, with this tool, we can track projects and it has also given our community the power to ask questions”- Femi, Ekiti CFA

Communities now feel supported to ask questions, track progress, and demand accountability. Journalists have a reliable tool to support investigative reporting. Citizens, once sidelined, can now participate meaningfully in governance processes that affect their daily lives. The AI Chatbot further reinforces the fact that when citizens have access to information, they can drive real change. Through this innovation, AL Nigeria is showing that technology can be a bridge between citizens and government, fostering accountability, building trust, and strengthening democracy. The success of the portal in Edo, Ekiti, and Plateau offers a model for a digitized public procurement system where public resources are managed openly, efficiently, and fairly, because when citizens are supported, governance improves for everyone.

‘’Before now, we only heard rumors about contracts. With this tool, we see the facts. It has made monitoring our community projects so much easier’’-  Uwaila Edo CFA