Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers assigned to Very Important Persons, VIPs, describing the move as commendable but likely to be ineffective.
In a post on X on Sunday, Sani said the policy was appropriate given the country’s pressing security challenges but expressed scepticism about its implementation, warning that it may “begin and end up as a statement.”
He said: “Withdrawal of Police from VIPs is a good idea and good policy statement in view of the nation’s urgent security needs, but it will only begin and end up as a statement.”
DAILY POST reports that President Tinubu on Sunday instructed that police officers currently attached to VIPs be withdrawn and redeployed to strengthen security nationwide.
According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the directive aims to ensure that police personnel focus on core policing duties.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs seeking protection will now request armed security from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Tinubu, who has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers, said he intends to boost police presence, particularly in remote areas where personnel shortages have hampered the protection of residents.
‘It will end up as statement’ — Shehu Sani on Tinubu withdrawing police from VIPs