Police unveils digital portal for fallen officers’ insurance claims

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the go-live of a digital portal to fast‐track insurance claims for families of fallen officers.

Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, who announced this on Tuesday, also says the new digital platform will address the 13‐year backlog in the force, and promote transparency.

At a ceremony held at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, also presented insurance benefit cheques to the next of kin of 706 fallen officers. 

“Through sustained efforts, the Force has successfully disbursed benefits to 6,465 beneficiaries in eight phases, amounting to  ₦17.8 billion,” the NPF says in a statement. 

“The IGP announced the disbursement of an additional  ₦2.99 billion to 706 beneficiaries covering policy years 2020–2024. This ninth phase brings the total insurance benefits paid to  ₦20.84 billion, benefiting 7,171 families.”

A key element of the ceremony was the launch of the Nigeria Police Insurance Claims Management Portal. The portal will serve as a “digital platform designed to streamline the insurance claims process, eliminate delays, and ensure seamless access to benefits, improving the overall welfare and promoting transparency in the system,” according to the Police.  

The Police says that the portal is part of a broader digital transformation in public service delivery. Digital claims management systems are increasingly used worldwide to reduce bureaucratic delays, curb administrative errors, and enhance accountability.

According to a World Bank report on digital government services, such platforms can “benefit citizens by reducing delays, consolidating multiple services under one roof, eliminating the need for frequent visits to government offices, and containing corruption.”

The NPF says that the initiative comes in response to a long-standing challenge of unsettled insurance claims dating from 2010 to 2023 that has imposed financial hardship on many affected families.

In addition to the portal’s launch, a specialised training programme has been introduced for Insurance Desk Officers across 17 Zonal Commands and 37 State Commands to further improve efficiency and service delivery.