The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, has advised that President Bola Tinubu’s recent order to withdraw police protection for VIPs should be applied across the board and not selectively.
The civil rights activist made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday.
“I hope that Mr. President’s directives will be fully implemented and not applied selectively. It is concerning when some individuals continue to have police escorts even to clubs and lounges, while many communities lack basic police presence. We need to address this imbalance,” Rafsanjani said.
He commended the President for the move, noting that withdrawing police personnel from guarding non-governmental VIPs would free up security forces to better protect communities.
Rafsanjani lamented the misplaced priorities that see police personnel assigned to VIP protection while many areas remain vulnerable to attacks.
“Even individuals who are not government officials receive police protection, yet ungoverned spaces remain without law enforcement. This absence of security where it is most needed puts Nigerians at risk,” he said.
“When you commercialize and privatize the security sector for public safety, it becomes a problem,” Rafsanjani added.
He further highlighted the inefficiency of checkpoints, noting that despite heavy police presence on the roads, criminal activities persist as soon as vehicles move past each checkpoint.
“For me, there is an urgent need for comprehensive security sector reforms to address the challenges we are facing,” he concluded.
On Sunday, President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties.
The President gave the order during a security meeting with service chiefs including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant 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.
This was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying the directive emphasises refocusing police manpower on essential law enforcement responsibilities.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons in the country.
“Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties,” Onanuga stated.
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