₦22 Million for 85 Cartons of Biscuits? Nigerians Outraged as Police Procurement Sparks Scandal

₦22 Million for 85 Cartons of Biscuits? Nigerians Outraged as Police Procurement Sparks Scandal

Nigeria has been thrown into a storm of anger and disbelief after fresh revelations showed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) approved and paid a staggering ₦22 million for just 85 cartons of biscuits intended for personnel on special operations.

The shocking details emerged from verified public procurement data released by GovSpend, a civic technology platform that monitors government expenditure. According to the records, the transaction was carried out on October 26, 2023, with payment made to a private contractor identified as Danlokey System Limited.

An analysis of the figures reveals that each carton of biscuits cost the police an average of ₦258,823. This figure has been described as scandalously inflated, considering that a similar carton of crackers sells in Nigerian markets for less than ₦10,000. Many Nigerians believe the transaction is not justifiable under any circumstance.

Civil rights groups and activists were quick to denounce the spending. A Lagos-based activist described it as “looting in plain sight,” stressing that for ₦22 million, the police could have provided their men with nutritious meals, proper medical support, or even protective gear that officers desperately need in the field. Instead, the money was sunk into overpriced biscuits.

GovSpend’s analysis of the transaction raised several red flags. The watchdog noted that the deal failed the basic value-for-money test, as the cost of the biscuits was more than twenty times higher than the market rate. Furthermore, the contractor, Danlokey System Limited, has no established record in food supply or logistics, creating doubts about how the company was chosen. Equally troubling was the lack of transparency in the procurement details. No mention was made of the biscuit brand, the number of packs per carton, or the distribution method. This absence of key information leaves wide gaps in accountability and opens the door to abuse.

The scandal has since triggered widespread outrage across the country. On social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), Nigerians voiced their anger in thousands of comments. Many questioned how the police could justify such extravagant spending on biscuits while stations across the nation lack fuel, functional patrol vehicles, communication equipment, and even basic office stationery. Others noted the bitter irony of police authorities complaining about inadequate funding to tackle crime, while at the same time approving payments that appear wasteful.

Civil society organisations have also joined the public outcry. Advocacy groups argue that the revelations underscore how deeply entrenched corruption has become within Nigerian public institutions. According to one group, the ₦22 million biscuit purchase is “not only an insult to ordinary citizens battling hunger and rising prices but also a slap in the face of the officers who risk their lives daily without adequate welfare support.”

The controversy highlights a recurring theme in Nigeria’s governance: mismanagement of resources and disregard for accountability in public procurement. While police officers deserve decent welfare packages, security experts say that inflated contracts for biscuits are not the answer. They insist that government funds should be channelled into sustainable feeding programs, improved hazard allowances, better health coverage, and the provision of protective equipment for frontline officers. Without such measures, the welfare of security personnel will continue to suffer, and public trust in law enforcement will keep eroding.

The biscuit contract has now become a litmus test for Nigeria’s fight against corruption. Over the years, the country has witnessed countless reports of inflated contracts for mundane items, ranging from mosquito nets to COVID-19 palliatives, yet very few cases have led to tangible accountability or systemic reforms. Nigerians are therefore asking whether this scandal will go the way of others—quietly buried without punishment—or whether this will finally be the moment when accountability is enforced.

Civil society groups are calling on the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, to urgently investigate the deal. They insist that those behind the questionable procurement must be named, shamed, and prosecuted, not only to recover public funds but also to restore confidence in governance.

For now, the revelations have left Nigerians both angry and deeply skeptical. As the outrage grows, the critical question is whether justice will be done—or whether the ₦22 million biscuit contract will fade into memory as just another example of the impunity that has long plagued Nigeria’s public sector.