Police withdrawal order: Lawmakers vs the president

The discussion of the withdrawal of police from the VIPs took the centre-stage on Wednesday 26 November, 2025 at the hallowed chamber of the Senate.

The order for the withdrawal was made by the President Bola Tinubu, at the expanded meeting with the top security chiefs amid the escalating insecurity across the country.

The directive was to enable the police hierarchy deploy the policemen/women to their core duties of safeguarding lives and properties of the citizenry.

The vast majority of the senators debating on the issue of the withdrawal of the police from VIPs maintained a stand, that their lives is in danger as such to withdraw the police escorts attached to them and other VIPs was greatly ill-timed.

But the question begging for answer is the life of senators/ government officials more important than that of the generality of Nigerians?  Happily the president did not succumb to the senators remark as the Inspector-General of Police has already recalled more than 11,000 policemen attached  to some VIPs.

With this, the lives of the average Nigerians will be safe and the VIPs or senators who want protection can revert to the use of the personnel of the Civil Defence as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

It is only in Nigeria that you can find a retinue of policemen and personnel of the state security service attached to a senator or member of the House of Representative.  Even at the state level, the members of the House of Assembly have police orderly and other policemen attached to them as escorts.

At a time like this, we need more policemen/women on the field as the numerical strength of the nation’s police force is grossly inadequate to protect the teeming population.

The situation on ground demands decisive action to dismantle these criminal networks and restore faith in the people to know that the government has the ability to protect them. It is even bashful for our elected representatives to openly show that their lives are more important than that of the ordinary citizens, that made it possible for them to be at the National Assembly.

It’s imperative for President Bola Tinubu, not to give room for anyone to thwart the laudable initiative he adopted in order to overcome the insecurity challenges bedevilling the country, especially in the North West.

The Inspector-General of Police should go by the directive of the President Bola Tinubu, that officers withdrawn from VIP duties proceed on crash training before redeployment to security-challenged areas.

The Nigerian people are counting on the police to provide them with an environment devoid of any security challenge. What is going on in the country underscores a terrifying trend of peace in almost every place in the country.

The risk assessment has already being taken care as anyone who desires security cover can approach the Civil Defence Corp for the personnel, who are also well trained like the police with a special squad.

A fellow lawmaker, Senator Ali Ndume, has thrown his support for the directive.

This is something commendable and we say a big thank you to President Bola Tinubu.

Usman Santuraki, No2 Santuraki Close, Demsawo, Jimeta-Yola

[email protected]

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.