The Presidency has called on Nigerians to assist in enforcing President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from private individuals and VIPs.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the appeal during a TVC interview on Sunday. He said public vigilance would help ensure strict compliance with the policy, which aims to free up police personnel for essential security operations.
Bwala encouraged citizens to document and report any instance where police officers are seen providing escorts to individuals who no longer qualify for such protection.
“If you identify a celebrity, a private sector person, or any individual who has police contrary to the president’s executive order, capture evidence — whether a photograph or video,” he said.
He clarified that the directive does not remove security protection from all VIPs. Some government officials will continue to receive protection due to the sensitive nature of their positions.
“The order is not all-encompassing. There are critical people in government who will still have one form of security or another,” he explained.
According to Bwala, where protection is still necessary, other security agencies such as the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) may be deployed instead of the police.
“It could be SSS or Civil Defence… but police have no business being with you,” he added.
Bwala said the measure is part of the administration’s broader security reforms aimed at optimising the deployment of security personnel, curbing misuse of police manpower and improving public safety.
The Federal Government has recently intensified efforts to reposition the security sector, arguing that many officers attached to VIPs are needed for frontline policing duties.
