A coalition of frontline civil society organisations has fired off a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigeria Police Force, demanding a full breakdown of a controversial ₦6 billion contract allegedly awarded for the procurement of police uniforms under suspicious circumstances.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the FOI request was prompted by widespread reports of financial impropriety and opaque contract practices within the Nigeria Police hierarchy.
“As responsible civil society actors, we are not pointing fingers—we are asking tough but necessary questions in the public interest,” Nwagwu said. “Our objective is to uphold institutional integrity, promote transparency, and most importantly, restore the Nigerian people’s faith in our policing institutions.”
At the heart of the storm is a ₦6 billion contract that was reportedly approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on January 16, 2024, via internal memo CQ 6000/DLS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.83/946—an amount far exceeding his legally permitted approval threshold. Even more troubling, the contract was allegedly fragmented into 66 separate contracts, each just under ₦100 million, and all awarded to a single company, in what appears to be a deliberate move to bypass procurement regulations.
Nwagwu questioned the rationale behind the contract-splitting, particularly in light of the ₦7.34 billion already earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for police uniforms. “Why the redundancy? What informed the decision to allegedly break up a single contract into dozens of smaller ones, all skirting procurement thresholds? Who is being protected, and at what cost to the Nigerian taxpayer?” he queried.
Adding further weight to the concerns, Nwagwu referenced online reports alleging that over ₦234 billion may have been mismanaged under the current police administration. He warned that if not swiftly addressed, such claims risk eroding public confidence in law enforcement and weakening internal accountability.
The civil society coalition also raised red flags over alleged sales and ceding of strategic police barracks and infrastructure to private individuals with close ties to top-ranking officers. “Was due process followed? Were these public assets auctioned transparently, or were they quietly handed over in backroom deals?” Nwagwu asked.
As part of their campaign for transparency and reform, the coalition has also submitted a formal petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), calling for a thorough, impartial investigation into the alleged contract manipulation and asset sales.
“This is not about blame,” Nwagwu said. “It’s about accountability. Reform without transparency is a smokescreen. Nigerians deserve a police force that commands respect not just through weapons and uniforms, but through credibility, professionalism, and prudent management of public resources.”
He concluded by reaffirming the coalition’s commitment to advocating for a policing system that delivers both security and accountability. “Accountability is not an attack on the police—it’s a tool to enhance performance, build public trust, and achieve the kind of policing Nigerians urgently need.”
PIONEER NEWS 