President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU), Hadiza Bala-Usman, has called for an immediate end to the deployment of police officers as personal guards for Very Important Personalities (VIPs), citing its adverse impact on national security.
Speaking on Thursday at the Ministry of Interior’s performance retreat in Abuja, Bala-Usman argued that elite protection should no longer come at the expense of public safety. She expressed concern over the diversion of police personnel, including specialized anti-terrorism squads, from critical security duties to escort roles for a select few individuals.
“One of the most disturbing things for me is when VIPs arrive somewhere with so many policemen trailing them, while the areas that actually need security are left unattended,” Bala-Usman said. “We cannot continue to deploy police trained for anti-terrorism operations just to guard individuals in Ikoyi. That is completely wrong.”
The presidential aide highlighted that the ongoing practice has overstretched Nigeria’s security agencies, leaving ordinary citizens under-protected while the elite receive disproportionate attention. According to her, the government is actively working to amend the Private Guard Companies Act to allow licensed private security firms to assume responsibility for VIP protection, thereby freeing up police officers for core national security duties.
“We must free our policemen to do national security as required. Whoever feels too important and wants machine gun-wielding personnel protecting him should go and hire a private security company with the necessary documentation, not take our mobile policemen,” Bala-Usman said. “We need to review this Act to enable private security to take up some of the work we are forcing our security agencies to do. VIP protection involves a wide gamut of security deployment that really should not be done by our security personnel. We must free them for national security purposes.”
Bala-Usman revealed that she had personally encountered cases where anti-terrorism units were deployed for VIP duties. “I saw elite police units stationed daily near my house in Ikoyi being used for VIP protection. I immediately reported it to the National Security Adviser. These personnel should be in the field combating terrorism, not guarding individuals,” she stated, warning that such misuse of specialized units undermines the nation’s fight against crime.
Tinubu’s Adviser Calls for End to VIP Police Escorts to Boost National Security
In addition to legislative reforms, Bala-Usman proposed integrating retired senior police officers into structured private security firms. She argued that experienced personnel, including former Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and Commissioners of Police (CPs), could provide professional VIP protection services, relieve the strain on overstretched public security agencies, and simultaneously create employment opportunities.
“We have so many retired AIGs, DIGs, and CPs who can be mopped up into a well-regulated private security system. That way, we reduce the pressure on our overstretched security agencies and still provide the support that is needed,” she explained.
The CDCU head stressed that VIP protection is not a public entitlement but a service that should be funded privately by those requesting it. “VIP protection is not a public entitlement. It is a service that should be paid for. Our policemen must be freed to protect Nigerians at large, not just a privileged few,” Bala-Usman insisted.
She emphasized that reforming VIP protection practices would not only enhance national security but also improve accountability among VIPs, ensuring they contribute to the cost of their personal safety rather than relying on public resources.
The presidential aide noted that the Interior Ministry has been tasked with fast-tracking the review of relevant legislation before the end of the third quarter of 2025 to ensure that private security firms are empowered to take over responsibilities currently handled by public officers. This reform aims to create a clear legal framework, professionalize VIP protection, and optimize the deployment of Nigeria’s security forces.
Bala-Usman’s statements have reignited discussions on the balance between elite protection and public safety in Nigeria, highlighting the need for systemic reforms in the security sector. By reducing the diversion of specialized personnel from critical duties, the government hopes to strengthen the nation’s capacity to combat terrorism, crime, and other threats while ensuring that VIP protection remains a paid, regulated service.
The move signals a broader push for efficiency and accountability in the country’s security apparatus, reinforcing President Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to national safety and resource optimization. As Nigeria continues to face complex security challenges, freeing frontline personnel from non-essential duties is viewed as a necessary step to enhance public protection and maintain the effectiveness of specialized units.
Source- Punchng
