Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has demanded accountability and transparency from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged misconduct involving a police uniform contract and the controversial disposal of key police barracks across the country.
Executive Director of the PAACA and Convener of the Say No Campaign, Ezenwa Nwagwu, at a roundtable on Police Reform and Accountability on Tuesday in Abuja, raised some concerns on procurement violations and asset mismanagement in the Police.
The group noted that it had submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Nigeria Police Force and also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations.
“For instance, we expect an explanation to reports alleging a N6 billion contract for police uniforms was split into 66 smaller contracts, each just under the procurement threshold, despite a prior budgetary allocation for the same purpose.
“As responsible civil society actors, we are not here to make accusations but to raise critical questions in the public interest—questions that demand thoughtful and transparent answers, not only to uphold institutional integrity but to restore public confidence in our policing system,” Nwagwu said.
The organisation also questioned the alleged sale and redevelopment of strategic police barracks, including those in Garki, Jabi, and Falomo, as well as Bompai in Kano.
These transactions, he said, were reportedly carried out without due process or required approvals from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Ministry of Police Affairs, or the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
He said, “Was due process followed in the reported sale and ceding of critical police barracks and assets, allegedly to individuals with personal ties to senior police leadership?”
According to him, in the spirit of transparency, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has been submitted to the Nigeria Police Force, seeking clarification on some of these troubling issues.
He said, “We believe this is a necessary step to support reform, not to cast blame.”
According to him, the group is interested in ensuring that the lean resources meant to secure Nigerians are being used transparently.
He said, “Furthermore, a petition has been submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to carry out a thorough, independent investigation into these matters—guided by fairness, professionalism, and respect for due process.
“We reaffirm our belief that reform and accountability must go hand-in-hand. Nigeria deserves a police force that is not only well-equipped but also beyond reproach in its use of public funds.
“We believe that accountability is not a threat to the police but a necessary tool to build public trust, enhance efficiency, and deliver the security that Nigerians desperately need.”
