The Nigeria Police Force has sent out a Special Enforcement Team to ensure that President Bola Tinubu’s order banning police escorts for Very Important Persons (VIPs) is obeyed.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announced this in a statement posted on the police’s official X (Twitter) page on Saturday.
- Consistency the key to Man City title charge — Guardiola
- Army Launches New High-Tech Centre for Military Training
Hundeyin said the team began its monitoring exercise in Lagos on December 6 around 10 a.m. They visited important places like the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and other major areas.
He reported that compliance with the President’s directive was “satisfactory and commendable.” According to him, no illegal police escorts were seen, and no one was arrested.
Hundeyin also said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has promised to fully implement the directive. He stated that the police remain committed to focusing their officers on core security duties such as crime prevention and protecting lives and property.
The police assured the public that the enforcement will continue nationwide without discrimination. They also encouraged citizens to support efforts to build a more efficient and people-friendly police force.
President Tinubu issued the order to withdraw all police officers attached to VIPs during a security meeting with service chiefs and the DSS Director-General on November 23 in Abuja.
According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who need protection will now be assigned armed officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Presidency explained that the policy aims to free up more police officers for community policing and improve overall security in the country.