By Sodiq Adelakun
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised opposition parties for what it described as needless alarm and misinformation over the new directive withdrawing police escorts from Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the development had been exaggerated by political actors who “thrive on sensationalism instead of sober reflection.”
Oladejo stressed that the directive was neither new nor directed at any individual or group, describing it instead as a routine administrative step aimed at restoring professionalism within the Nigeria Police Force.
He said: “The truth is simple, clear and incontrovertible. This policy is neither new, strange, nor targeted at any individual or group. It is a routine administrative measure aimed at restoring professionalism within the Nigeria Police Force and reinforcing the primary mandate of the police to protect the general population, not a privileged few.”
He noted that security experts had long complained about the imbalance in the deployment of police personnel, with many officers assigned to private individuals as status symbols rather than securing communities and public infrastructure.
According to him, the reform is “a long-overdue correction, not a controversy.”
Oladejo accused opposition figures of attempting to “weaponise the issue,” saying their reactions reflect an entitlement mentality.
“Their loud lamentations betray a mindset that sees public institutions as personal estates. Nigeria cannot continue to fund insecurity at the national level while pampering VIP sensitivities,” he added.
He argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police deserved praise, not criticism, for pushing a reform that prioritises the safety of ordinary citizens.
The Lagos APC further emphasised that the decision does not affect constitutionally mandated security for public office holders, stressing that the aim is to curb abuse and frivolous deployment of officers for private purposes.
Oladejo said more adjustments should be expected within the security sector as part of efforts to enhance accountability and efficiency.
“In summary, the supposed outrage is unnecessary, the fear-mongering is baseless, and the attempts at politicisation are dead on arrival. This is a positive step toward national security revival, nothing more, nothing less,” he said