The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that his directive to strip Very Important Persons (VIPs) of police escorts is implemented without exceptions, warning that selective enforcement would defeat the purpose of the policy.
Speaking on Channels Television’s programme The Morning Brief on Monday, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, said it was unjustifiable for influential individuals to enjoy heavy police protection — in some cases to nightclubs and lounges — while many communities endure insecurity due to inadequate police presence.
Rafsanjani stressed that redirecting police personnel from non-governmental VIPs to public policing would significantly strengthen community security. According to him, Nigeria continues to witness preventable attacks because security resources are concentrated on elite protection rather than public safety.
He also questioned the efficiency of police checkpoints across the country. Despite their heavy deployment, he noted that crime often resumes immediately after motorists pass through the checkpoints, raising doubts about their role in crime prevention.
President Tinubu had, on Sunday, ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs nationwide, a move aimed at freeing security personnel for core policing duties.