Nigeria’s efforts to adopt digital tools for public safety have come under scrutiny as two key emergency apps—developed by the Army and the Police—are now either defunct or malfunctioning.
The Nigerian Army’s NA iReport app, designed to allow citizens to report suspicious activities and misconduct by soldiers, has been removed from the Google Play Store.
As reported by PUNCH, It was launched in 2018 as part of the Army’s cyber operations drive, aiming to improve its response to threats and strengthen ties with the civilian population.
During its unveiling, then Army Chief Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) had described the app as a means for Nigerians to anonymously submit complaints, including those involving military personnel.
It was intended to improve transparency and boost public trust.
“The app allowed users to send real-time reports to the Army, including incidents of unprofessional conduct by our own personnel,” Buratai had said at the time.
Despite reaching over 10,000 downloads before its removal, the app was never extended to iOS users on Apple’s App Store.
A recent check confirmed its disappearance from Android’s Play Store, with no official notice regarding its discontinuation.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force is also facing criticism over its emergency response app—Police-VGS Quick Emergency Report and Response System—launched in 2023 under the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Although still available for download, the app has been widely condemned for serious technical problems.
One major flaw highlighted by users is the absence of a registration feature, rendering the app practically unusable for new users.
A test by a correspondent confirmed this: “while the app has login fields for username and password, there’s no option to create a new account.”
A frustrated user remarked in the review section, “There’s no ‘Register’ button—just login fields. Who developed this? It’s unusable!” The comment attracted dozens of likes and similar complaints.
Another reviewer simply wrote, “This app is a reflection of the current state of the police. It’s disappointing.”
Efforts to contact the Force’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, for clarification yielded no response as of the time this report was compiled.
In response to inquiries about the Army’s missing app, spokesperson Lt. Col. Onyechi Anele said the military has other channels through which it receives public reports.
She said, “We operate a 24-hour helpline via 193 where citizens can lodge complaints. Our verified social media pages are also monitored round-the-clock by our OSINT team, which uses advanced artificial intelligence tools for analysis and intelligence gathering.”
She added that the Army remains open to feedback and improvements to its digital systems.
However, the apparent failure of these two platforms—both rolled out with fanfare—has sparked concern over Nigeria’s ability to sustain digital tools for national security.
As citizens increasingly rely on technology to interact with authorities, non-functional or unavailable apps may only widen the communication gap during emergencies.