A recent review of the Nigerian government’s public payment portal has brought to light a controversial expenditure by the Nigeria Police Force, which reportedly spent a staggering N8.63 million on just ten cartons of powdered Peak milk intended for officers on special security operations.
According to procurement records, each of the ten cartons contained 12 packs of powdered milk, with each carton billed at an average of N863,000. This translates to an eye-watering N71,916 per pack, igniting public outrage over what many see as an unnecessary and exorbitant use of funds.
The payment description on the portal read: “Being payment for ten containers of Powdered Peak milk (full cream instant powder 12 per each carton in respect of personnel deployed to carry out special discreet security).” The justification for the purchase has been criticized for its apparent lack of cost efficiency, especially given the scale of the expense relative to the quantity of milk procured.
Pattern of high-cost spending
This revelation has raised further eyebrows, as it fits a recurring pattern of high-cost and seemingly extravagant police expenditures under the current administration of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. In 2024, procurement reports revealed that millions of naira were allocated for the purchase of Inspector General of Police-branded towels, across multiple contracts totaling N59.4 million. The pattern continued in 2023, when the force reportedly spent N22.2 million on 85 cartons of Cream Crackers biscuits, averaging more than N260,000 per carton.
These expenditures have sparked concerns about fiscal responsibility within the Nigeria Police Force. Analysts and watchdogs have questioned why basic consumables are being purchased at luxury prices, suggesting that these transactions highlight structural inefficiencies and gaps in the force’s procurement oversight mechanisms.
Public reactions and outrage
The disclosure has prompted strong reactions across social media, with critics labeling the milk purchase as a glaring example of mismanagement within the police. Many Nigerians argue that such funds could have been more effectively deployed toward essential areas such as officers’ welfare, proper training, improved equipment, and overall operational efficiency, rather than being allocated to inflated consumable costs.
Some commentators highlighted the broader implications of these high-cost contracts, suggesting that repeated instances of luxury-priced supplies signal deeper accountability issues within public institutions. They also noted that such expenditures could erode public trust in the police, especially at a time when citizens expect better transparency and judicious use of public funds.
Calls for accountability and transparency
Civil society organizations, procurement watchdogs, and concerned Nigerians have now demanded immediate answers from the police leadership and government procurement authorities. Advocates argue that without stringent checks and transparent reporting, such extravagant spending patterns risk becoming normalized, undermining both public confidence and the effective use of taxpayer resources.
Calls have intensified for the Nigeria Police Force to implement stricter oversight mechanisms, ensure competitive pricing in procurement processes, and provide detailed explanations for large expenditures. Critics insist that only through accountability and transparency can public trust be restored and future financial mismanagement be prevented, particularly in a security sector critical to national stability and public welfare.