Nigeria must put an end to the use of police officers as escorts for Very Important Personalities (VIPs), says Hadiza Bala-Usman, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy and Coordination and Head of the Central Delivery Coordination Unit. She warned that diverting officers trained for crime fighting and counter-terrorism into personal bodyguard duties is weakening national security and leaving citizens exposed.
Speaking at the Ministry of Interior’s performance retreat in Abuja, Bala-Usman expressed concern over VIP convoys guarded by dozens of policemen while communities in genuine need of protection remain vulnerable. She described the practice as unacceptable and insisted that elite security operatives must be reassigned to their core responsibilities.
She revealed that the government is working to amend the Private Guard Companies Act to allow licensed private firms to take over VIP protection. According to her, those who demand heavily armed escorts should pay for such services rather than rely on public resources. “VIP protection is not a public entitlement. It must be funded by those who need it,” she stressed.
Bala-Usman further disclosed that she had personally reported cases where anti-terrorism units were deployed to VIP duties, warning that such misuse undermines the fight against insecurity. She also suggested that retired senior police officers could be integrated into private security outfits, strengthening the sector while reducing pressure on serving personnel.
She concluded that freeing the police from VIP escort duties would enhance public safety, improve crime prevention, and make Nigeria’s security system fairer for all citizens. The Ministry of Interior has been tasked with fast-tracking the review of the legislation before the end of the third quarter of 2025.
