•VIP police escort
The federal government has vowed to end the misuse of police and other security personnel by Very Important Persons, insisting that elite protection should no longer come at the expense of national security.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, Hadiza Bala-Usman, said this today in Abuja during the Ministry of Interior’s performance retreat, reports The PUNCH.
Bala-Usman expressed concern over the diversion of police officers and specialised squads from other security agencies from critical security assignments to VIP escort duties.
According to her, this practice has overstretched the nation’s security agencies and deprived ordinary Nigerians of needed protection.
“One of the most disturbing things for me is when VIPs arrive somewhere with so many policemen trailing them, while the areas that actually need security are left unattended.
“We cannot continue to deploy police trained for anti-terrorism operations just to guard individuals in Ikoyi. That is completely wrong,” she said.
The presidential aide stressed that the government was working to amend the Private Guard Companies Act to empower licensed private security firms to take over VIP protection roles.
She stated, “We must free our policemen to do national security as required. Whoever feels too important and wants machine gun-wielding personnel protecting him should go and hire a private security company with the necessary documentation, not take our mobile policemen.
“We need to review this act to enable private security to take up some of the work we are forcing our security agencies to do. We must free our security agencies to do what they need to do.
“So that act needs to be amended. I’ve put it among the deliverables that we need to track, because VIP protection, there’s a lot of gamut of security deployment that really should not be done by our security personnel. We must free them for them to do national security as required.”
She revealed that she had personally reported cases where anti-terrorism squads were deployed for VIP duties, warning that such practices undermine the fight against crime.
“I saw elite police units stationed daily near my house in Ikoyi being used for VIP protection. I immediately reported it to the National Security Adviser. These personnel should be in the field combating terrorism, not guarding individuals,” Bala-Usman said.
The CDCU head also called for the integration of retired senior police officers into structured private security institutions to provide professional protection services, while creating employment opportunities.
“We have so many retired AIGs, DIGs and CPs who can be mopped up into a well-regulated private security system. That way, we reduce the pressure on our overstretched security agencies and still provide the support that is needed,” she said.
She emphasised that the reform would not only enhance national security but also hold VIPs accountable for funding their personal safety.
“VIP protection is not a public entitlement. It is a service that should be paid for. Our policemen must be freed to protect Nigerians at large, not just a privileged few,” she stated.
Bala-Usman added that the Interior Ministry had been tasked with fast-tracking the review of relevant legislation before the end of the third quarter of 2025.
