The Federal Government has announced plans to stop the misuse of security operatives by Very Important Persons (VIPs).
This was disclosed by Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, who said the government aims to ensure that security personnel are deployed for national security purposes rather than VIP protection.
Bala-Usman, said this during the Ministry of Interior’s performance retreat on Thursday in Abuja, just as decried the widespread diversion of police personnel, including specialised anti-terrorism squads, to VIP escort duties, leaving critical security gaps across the country.
Accirding to Bala-Usman, ”We cannot continue to deploy police that have been trained for anti-terrorism to be guiding VIPs in Ikoyi.
“That is completely wrong. If the person feels he needs protection, let him go and pay a licensed security company to provide it,” she said.
She also revealed that the government was pushing for an amendment to the Private Guard Companies (PGCs) Act to empower certified private security firms to handle VIP protection services.
“We must free our policemen to do national security as required so, whoever feels too important, needing submachine guns around him, should go and hire PGC with the necessary documentation and not take our mobile policemen,” Bala-Usman added.
The presidential aide noted that Nigeria’s police force was overstretched with the actual number of officers available on the ground falling far below the official strength.
According to her, redeploying officers from VIP escorts to national security operations was long overdue.
She suggested integrating retired senior police officers into structured private security companies to professionalize the industry and create jobs.
She urged the Ministry of Interior and the National Assembly to fast-track the legislative process before the third quarter of 2025.
Bala-Usman emphasised that VIP protection is not a public entitlement and that security personnel should be freed to protect Nigerians at large, not just a privileged few.
The reform aims to ensure that security resources are utilized efficiently and effectively to address national security challenges.
