President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his directive for police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) to be withdrawn and reassigned to communities battling insecurity across the country. Speaking during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, the President stressed that the order must be fully enforced to strengthen national security.
Tinubu urged officials who feel vulnerable due to the withdrawal to liaise with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for necessary clearance. He further directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to collaborate with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to deploy civil defence personnel as replacements where necessary.
According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to waste security manpower on VIP protection while many communities remain exposed to kidnappers and terrorists. “We need all available hands in volatile areas. Civil defence personnel are equally armed and can provide support,” he said.
The President had first issued the directive on November 24 during a security meeting with service chiefs and intelligence heads. Days later, IGP Kayode Egbetokun announced that 11,566 police officers had already been recalled and redeployed to underserved areas.
The policy has, however, stirred mixed reactions. While some Nigerians applaud the move as a step towards refocusing the police on core duties, others fear the transition may be poorly executed. Senator Ali Ndume criticized what he described as excessive police presence at the National Assembly, alleging that some lawmakers and ministers still maintain multiple police escorts, including for their family members.
Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka also questioned the heavy security detail accompanying Seyi Tinubu, describing the convoy as overly armed and disproportionate.
Security experts have also weighed in. Retired AIG Abutu Yaro urged caution, warning that abrupt withdrawal without adequate replacement could lead to unintended consequences. Former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, expressed doubts about transferring VIP protection roles to the NSCDC, arguing that the corps lacks the manpower and specialized training required for such duties.
The Senate on Wednesday directed its Committee on Police Affairs to probe alleged selective implementation of the order. This followed complaints by Senator Abdul Ningi, who lamented the withdrawal of his only police orderly while ministers, business leaders, political families and celebrities continued to enjoy full security coverage.
Ningi warned that inconsistent enforcement could endanger lawmakers and defeat the purpose of the President’s security reform. “It must be applied across the board,” he insisted, calling for fairness and transparency in carrying out the directive.
