Tinubu must stand firm on Police withdrawal

President Bola Tinubu’s stern declaration on Wednesday, December 10, that the directive to withdraw police officers from VIP protection is non-negotiable marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s battle to reclaim its security architecture. 

Coming barely weeks after the initial order, this reaffirmation is timely and necessary, especially as the political elite including the Senate begin to clamour for exemptions and probes into the policy. We urge Mr. President, Do not blink. Do not give in.

For too long, the Nigeria Police Force has been privatized by the highest bidder. It is an open secret that our security structure is skewed to protect the big men while the common man is left at the mercy of bandits. 

The revelation by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun that 11,566 officers have already been withdrawn from VIP duties is both shocking and vindicating. That is nearly 12,000 armed personnel equivalent to several battalions who were previously carrying bags and opening doors for politicians and businessmen while citizens in remote areas remained vulnerable to attacks.

The pushback has already begun. On the same day the President stood his ground, the House of Representatives pressed for a review of the withdrawal, insisting that justices and other key figures should remain exempt. 

This sense of entitlement is exactly why previous attempts to enforce this ban failed. The President must reject these requests. The primary duty of government is the security of the public, not the vanity of the privileged.

The alternative provided is clear and sensible. President Tinubu has directed that VIPs requiring protection should utilize the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a body well-trained and armed for such specific duties. 

This rationalization of resources allows the Police to focus on investigation, intelligence, and community policing, while the NSCDC handles asset and dignitary protection. There is no logical reason why a private citizen or a politician needs a mobile police combatant as a status symbol when entire communities lack a single functional police station.

However, a directive in Nigeria is only as good as its enforcement. To ensure this policy does not die a natural death like its predecessors, strict measures must be implemented without exception. The order must apply to all, including National Assembly members and ruling party chieftains; if the President’s own ministers or associates are seen flaunting police escorts, the policy will collapse. 

Furthermore, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the DSS, now tasked with supervision, must conduct random audits to identify and sanction Area Commanders who illegally deploy officers. Finally, as VIPs migrate to the Civil Defence, the government must ensure the Corps is not overwhelmed or corrupted by the same escort mentality that plagued the police.

President Tinubu has drawn a line in the sand. He must now defend it against the pressure of his own colleagues. The era of the police force serving as a domestic staff agency for the rich must end, and it must end now.