The Federal Government has announced plans to end the misuse of police officers by Very Important Persons (VIPs), stressing that the practice has weakened national security and left citizens vulnerable.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, disclosed this at the ongoing Ministerial Retreat of the Federal Ministry of Interior in Suleja, Niger State.
She faulted the diversion of police personnel, including anti-terrorism units, to VIP escort duties, warning that such misallocation has created glaring security gaps nationwide. “We cannot continue to deploy police that have been trained for anti-terrorism to be guarding a VIP 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.
Bala-Usman revealed that the government is working on amending the Private Guard Companies Act to empower certified private security firms to handle VIP protection services.
She added that retired senior police officers would be integrated into the sector to boost professionalism and create jobs.
According to her, freeing police officers from VIP guard duties would allow them to focus on combating crime and strengthening internal security across the country.