The Nigeria Police Force has been flagged for multiple contract and payment irregularities amounting to N2,694,859,868.53.

It was revealed by the newly released Auditor-General’s Annual Report on Non-Compliance and Internal Control Weaknesses in MDAs for the year 2022.

The audit report detailed abandoned projects, unapproved contract awards, questionable payments, and the disbursement of funds for unexecuted works across several police departments at the Force Headquarters.

One of the cases highlighted in the report showed that 14 contracts worth N1,938,299,452.00, listed as ongoing projects in the 2022 budget, were abandoned.

Instead of completing the projects, the auditors said the police awarded new contracts that were not captured in the 2022 Appropriation Act.

The report added that these new contracts could not be traced to any legislative approval and were awarded and paid for without recourse to the approved budget.

In its response, police management said the projects had been rolled over since 2017 under a zero-based budgeting system.

It stated, “The immediate past administration operated a ‘zero-based’ budget; hence, the subject projects were rolled over from 2017 until date. The projects had attained various levels of completion but were not funded by successive police administrations, hence, the abandonment. It is advised that a sub-head be provided for inclusion in upcoming budgets to fund such abandoned projects so they can be completed.”

The report, however, recommended that the Inspector-General of Police be directed to recover and remit the affected funds to the treasury.

Another irregularity involved the construction of 12 one-bedroom en suite transit camps and the rehabilitation of an administrative block at the Police Pre-retirement Skills Acquisition Centre, Kudan, Kaduna State.

The contract was awarded for N141,082,359.45, and N111,635,864.64—representing 79 per cent of the contract sum—was paid in November and December 2022.

However, during an inspection in March 2024, auditors found that the transit camps had not been constructed.

Management responded that part of the work had been completed and that the consultant had instructed the contractor to return to site, but the auditors described the explanation as inadequate.

The report also raised concerns over irregular payments totalling N4,011,627.89 for additional works on the Inspector-General of Police Conference Room.

Although N20m VAT-inclusive was initially approved for the modification, an additional N2,511,627.89 was later approved for statutory taxes, bringing the total to N22,511,627.89.

Auditors noted that N4,011,627.89, representing VAT and tax elements, should not have been paid to the contractor.

Other issues flagged include the payment of N499,875,500.00 for the construction of Police College Phase II in Bashar, Plateau State, which auditors said was not executed despite full payment; the payment of N112,026,424.00 for outstanding 2020 liabilities using funds from the 2022 appropriation; and the irregular engagement of a Senior Special Assistant to the Inspector-General of Police on revenue and tax matters at a cost of N6,000,000, which auditors said did not follow due process.

The report further queried the direct procurement of equipment worth N10,080,000.00 for the newly established NPF Database Management Centre, stating that the procurement violated established guidelines.

It also cited irregularities in the execution of a contract valued at N12,931,000.00, noting that the details of the project were not adequately documented.

Additionally, the audit flagged the loss of police operational animals, particularly horses, without proper documentation or accountability, describing it as evidence of weak asset management practices within the Force.

It also observed that several obsolete firearms collected from various police commands and formations were found in the Force Headquarters armoury.

However, auditors said the schedule of obsolete weapons and documentation relating to their disposal were not provided for review.

The Auditor-General concluded that the Nigeria Police Force failed to comply with financial regulations, procurement laws, and proper documentation procedures, adding that the findings would remain valid until the Police implement the recommended corrective actions. (The PUNCH)

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