Senator Ali Ndume has criticised the heavy presence of police officers attached to lawmakers and other top officials in Abuja, describing the scale of personal security details as unnecessary and disrespectful to the country’s security priorities. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said the National Assembly still hosted an excessive number of officers despite the recent directive ordering police withdrawal from VIPs.
Ndume argued that if the Federal Capital Territory were properly secured, there would be no justification for escorting public officers, their spouses, or even their adult children with police protection. He recalled occasions where he visited colleagues and found more than ten officers stationed in a single home, noting that some officials move about with convoys that create the impression of presidential movement.
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His remarks came after President Tinubu announced an emergency security plan that includes recalling officers from VIP duties for rapid retraining and redeployment to areas struggling with crime. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, confirmed that more than eleven thousand officers had already been withdrawn and reassigned to communities that lack adequate policing. He described the move as a necessary step to strengthen frontline operations.
The debate over VIP policing has grown louder as insecurity continues to trouble various parts of the country. Ndume’s comments add further pressure on public office holders to align with the government’s effort to restore stability and redirect critical security manpower to locations where citizens face real threats.
