GovSpend payment records show the Nigeria Police disbursed N1.737 billion for 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado V6 2024 models on a single day, raising fresh questions over procurement priorities amid mounting security and funding challenges.
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — July 8, 2026
Fresh procurement records have revealed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu, spent N1.737 billion in a single day on the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado V6 2024 model sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
The expenditure, uncovered through publicly available payment records published on the government expenditure tracking platform GovSpend, has renewed scrutiny of spending priorities within the country’s foremost law enforcement agency at a time when many police formations continue to grapple with inadequate operational equipment, poor welfare, and persistent funding constraints.
The procurement also comes against the backdrop of previous controversies surrounding police expenditure on operational logistics and consumables.
Payment Records Detail Multi-Billion Naira Vehicle Procurement
Documents reviewed by A1NEWS International indicate that on May 9, 2026, the Nigeria Police processed two identical payments of N868,697,000 each to Mujaf Automobile Nigeria Limited.
Both payments were recorded under the budget heading “Police Formations and Commands” with identical descriptions:
“Being payment for the supply of 5 Nos. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado V6 2024 model to the Nigeria Police Force.”
Together, the transactions amounted to:
- First Payment: N868,697,000
- Second Payment: N868,697,000
- Total: N1,737,394,000
Based on the total amount paid, each vehicle cost approximately N173.74 million, assuming equal pricing across all 10 units.
Procurement Came Shortly After Disu Assumed Office
The vehicle acquisition occurred less than three months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Olatunji Rilwan Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police on February 24, 2026, following the retirement of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
Disu officially assumed office on February 25 after his decoration at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja.
His appointment was subsequently confirmed unanimously by the Nigeria Police Council on March 2, 2026.
The timing of the procurement has drawn attention because it represents one of the earliest high-value capital expenditures undertaken during his administration.
Questions Over Procurement Priorities
While the Nigeria Police routinely procure operational vehicles for security assignments, procurement experts say large expenditures involving public funds often attract public interest, particularly where transparency, value for money and procurement compliance are concerned.
The payment records do not publicly indicate:
- Whether the procurement followed an open competitive bidding process;
- Whether the vehicles were designated for operational deployments or executive use;
- The specific commands or departments expected to receive the SUVs;
- Whether the purchase complied with provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not publicly issued a detailed explanation regarding the procurement.
Security Challenges Persist Across Police Commands
The procurement comes at a period when police officers across several states have repeatedly raised concerns over inadequate patrol vehicles, shortages of fuel allocations, obsolete communication equipment and poor operational logistics.
Security analysts note that although command vehicles are essential for policing, balancing investment in executive transportation with frontline operational needs remains a key issue in public sector resource management.
Critics argue that improved mobility for field officers, intelligence gathering equipment and personnel welfare may have a more direct impact on crime prevention and emergency response.
Fresh Scrutiny Following Previous Spending Controversies
The latest revelations have revived public attention to previous spending by the Nigeria Police.
In 2025, procurement records showed that under the administration of former Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, the Force spent more than N239.4 million on food supplies described as dry rations for personnel deployed on security operations.
The purchases included large quantities of:
- Geisha tinned fish
- Cream cracker biscuits
- Ovaltine
- Cornflakes
- Powdered milk
- Milo
- Canned baked beans
Multiple vendors reportedly received contracts worth tens of millions of naira for supplying the food items to personnel deployed across various geopolitical zones.
At the time, questions were raised regarding procurement pricing, transparency and value for public funds.
Public Procurement Under Increasing Oversight
Nigeria’s growing digital transparency initiatives, including the GovSpend portal, have significantly expanded public access to government expenditure data.
Civil society organisations and fiscal accountability advocates say such platforms enable citizens, journalists and oversight institutions to monitor government spending more effectively.
However, procurement specialists caution that payment records alone do not necessarily indicate wrongdoing.
They note that determining whether public funds were appropriately spent requires examining procurement procedures, contract specifications, market pricing, delivery records and compliance with applicable procurement laws.
Experts Call for Greater Transparency
Governance and public finance experts say major government procurements should be accompanied by detailed disclosures explaining:
- The operational necessity of the expenditure;
- Procurement methodology;
- Contract award process;
- Cost benchmarks;
- Delivery status; and
- Beneficiary departments.
Such transparency, they argue, helps strengthen public confidence while reducing speculation regarding the management of public resources.
Awaiting Official Response
As of press time, neither the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters nor Mujaf Automobile Nigeria Limited had publicly responded to questions regarding the procurement.
It also remains unclear whether the vehicles have already been deployed or allocated to specific police formations.
Should official responses become available, A1NEWS International will update this report to reflect all perspectives in line with the principles of balanced and fair journalism.
The disclosure that the Nigeria Police spent N1.737 billion in a single day on 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs has reignited debate over public sector procurement, fiscal accountability and spending priorities within Nigeria’s security institutions.
While investment in operational assets is an important component of effective policing, the scale of the expenditure has prompted renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability to assure Nigerians that scarce public resources are being utilised efficiently and in accordance with established procurement laws.
As public scrutiny intensifies, stakeholders are expected to demand clearer explanations regarding the necessity, pricing and procurement process behind one of the Force’s most significant vehicle acquisitions in recent months.
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