ABUJA – A wave of apprehension has swept through Nigeria’s political and business elite following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police escorts from Very Important Persons (VIPs), a move that has sparked both public debate and private panic among the affected class.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed on Sunday that police personnel would be reassigned to core law enforcement duties, with VIPs now expected to seek armed protection from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) if needed.
According to security sources, the police headquarters has been inundated with calls from anxious VIPs seeking clarification and expressing deep concerns about their safety amid the country’s worsening security situation.
“The practice of providing police escorts to high ranking officers and VIPs has become a major feature of the security landscape in Nigeria,” one VIP told NewsFocus, acknowledging the need for reform while warning that a blanket withdrawal could “increase the prevailing fears of insecurity in the society.”
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) swiftly criticized the move as “political theatre,” with party spokesperson Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi describing it as a recurring announcement that “demonstrates the government’s lack of understanding of the true nature and complexity of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.”
A serving police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted the operational implications, noting that VIP protection duties have historically diverted crucial resources from community policing. “Police patrol teams in certain areas are often understaffed, and response times to distress calls are prolonged as a result of the overwhelming number of officers assigned to VIP duties,” the officer revealed.
Human rights activist Tony Udemmadu welcomed the policy shift, stating that VIP escorts had become “a symbol of inequality” that undermined public trust in law enforcement.
As the police force works to establish modalities for the withdrawal, Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin had not provided specific details on implementation timelines or the number of officers affected by press time.
