A former Inspector-General of Police has shed light on why previous efforts to withdraw police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) did not succeed, even as he expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s new directive aimed at freeing up manpower for core policing duties.
Speaking in an interview, the ex-IGP explained that earlier administrations had issued similar orders, but the directives often collapsed due to pressure from influential individuals who insisted on retaining their police escorts. According to him, political officeholders, business elites, and other powerful figures routinely frustrated implementation, making it difficult for the police leadership to sustain the reforms.
He noted that although the Nigeria Police Force has consistently struggled with inadequate personnel, a substantial number of officers remain deployed to guard private individuals and non-critical assignments — a situation he described as “a misuse of essential security resources.”
The former police chief said President Tinubu’s latest instruction, which mandates the withdrawal of officers from VIPs and the reassignment of those personnel to operational units, presents a fresh opportunity to correct long-standing structural issues. He added that the success of this new move will depend on the government’s ability to resist external pressure and stand firm on enforcement.
He also emphasised that reclaiming the thousands of officers currently assigned to individuals will significantly boost policing capacity nationwide, improve patrol visibility, and enhance the fight against crime.
Expressing optimism, the ex-IGP urged the police authorities to implement the directive without fear or favour, while calling on VIPs to respect the new policy in the interest of national security.
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