In a significant move aimed at enhancing security nationwide, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIP protection duties. The directive, issued during a high-level security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, will see officers redeployed to focus on their primary law enforcement responsibilities, especially in remote and underserved areas.
The presidential decision was made in consultation with top security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
As part of the new policy, VIPs seeking personal protection will now be required to request security services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which will provide well-armed personnel for such duties. This shift is part of President Tinubu’s broader strategy to bolster policing capacity across the country and ensure that resources are effectively allocated where they are most needed.
In the wake of the directive, the Nigerian police have begun implementing internal adjustments. A memo signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, instructed all officers previously assigned to VIP protection duties to report back to base by November 24. The memo emphasized the need for strict compliance, with attendance required for a lecture parade the following day.
This move reflects a broader effort by the government to improve policing efficiency and address the security challenges facing Nigeria. By reallocating officers to focus on community protection, the government aims to strengthen law enforcement in areas that have long been underserved, while also ensuring that high-profile individuals seeking protection will have alternative security options.
Do you think this new policy will help address security challenges in Nigeria’s communities, or will it leave VIPs vulnerable?
#PolicingReform #SecurityChallenges #Nigeria
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