By Tauhid Ndafogi Hauwa
President Bola Ahamed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) as part of measures to address the worsening security situation across the country, alongside the declaration of a state of emergency on security aimed at redeploying limited police manpower to their core public policing duties.
This directive according to experts is targeted towards the far long practice of assigning large numbers of police officers to politicians, business figures and celebrities estimated at consuming up to one third of the police workforce thereby weakening community security.
The president has also directed the recruitment of over 50,000 additional police officers to strengthen security operations, particularly in vulnerable areas and according to analysts this move has not only seen thousands of officers recalled but have also created a protection gap for elites and raised questions about who will now handle the VIP’s security.
The presidency initially said VIPs would be protected by armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). However, former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, has questioned the agency’s capacity, noting that they are inadequately trained and staffed for VIP protection, considering their statutory role is focused on securing critical infrastructure.
With doubts over the NSCDC’s readiness, attention has shifted to the private security sector, as stakeholders are saying it is likely to witness increased demand. Nigeria’s private security industry, made up of over 3,000 licensed firms, has indicated readiness to fill the gap, though experts warn of challenges including regulation, training and legal restrictions on arms.
While the policy is widely viewed as a bold step towards strengthening public safety, analysts stress that its success will depend on strict enforcement, transparency and urgent reforms to professionalise the private security sector. They also insist that the ultimate test of the directive lies not in elite protection, but in improved security for the wider population.
Credit Chijoke Okoronkwo
News Agency of Nigeria.