The decision by President Bola Tinubu to withdraw police personnel attached to VIPs has triggered nationwide reactions as citizens debate the impact of redirecting officers to public security duties.
The problem centers around Nigeria’s rising insecurity and the long-standing diversion of police personnel to private escorts for politicians, wealthy individuals, and influential figures.
Many citizens argue that the shortage of officers across communities has weakened public safety and reduced police visibility in critical areas.
Some commenters said the policy could improve security if implemented fairly, while others questioned whether the directive would be followed without exceptions.
Ayebanua Inomokuma Friday described the policy as a welcome development, saying it will allow police to “adequately provide the needed security personnel in and around hot spots,” while urging VIPs to rely on private security instead of civil defense officers.
Christopher Mayowa Ige-adibi supported the decision and said it was long overdue, noting that VIPs already enjoy multiple layers of protection and that the country needs “every available security operative deployed to the field where they are most needed.”
Abimbola Sodiq Oyetunde said the move is necessary because ordinary citizens rely completely on the police, adding that “if this policy is implemented with proper monitoring and fairness, it can boost response time, increase visibility, and rebuild public trust.”
Monsuru Kehinde said the police should focus on national duties and not private individuals, adding that the decision is also an opportunity to boost employment in private security outfits.
Some skepticism also emerged, with David Solomon joking about whether the order would be obeyed, asking if it also applies to high-profile political allies.
Idowu Emmanuel Koyode emphasized the urgency of the policy, noting that Nigeria has fewer than 400,000 officers serving over 220 million people and describing it as “unjust for a significant portion of our police force to be assigned to VIP escorts.”
Umar Mohammed Nasir said the move is bold and aims to reallocate resources to protect the general public, but he warned that it raises concerns about the vulnerability of VIPs.
Maina Haruna said the directive would serve as a “litmus test,” exposing VIPs to the realities ordinary Nigerians face daily.
Gen Abdulbasit Omeiza questioned whether the withdrawal would also apply to the president’s family and asked how effective redeployment alone would be without broader security reforms.
The decision remains one of the government’s most significant attempts to strengthen national security by reallocating police manpower from private escort duties to public protection.
