A report by The Cable indicates that President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police officers from VIP protection has sparked significant pushback from members of the National Assembly.
The matter surfaced during Wednesday’s sessions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where at least two senators and one House member objected to the decision, with others openly criticizing it.
Tinubu had reaffirmed the policy on November 26 while declaring a nationwide security emergency, explaining that officers removed from VIP duty would undergo intensive retraining before being reassigned to volatile regions to bolster national security efforts.
However, many lawmakers argued that the move is risky and ill-advised. They cautioned that stripping VIPs of security protection would make them prime targets for criminal groups, including terrorists and bandits.
Senator Aliyu Wamakko from Sokoto expressed outright disagreement with the policy, predicting the administration would eventually have to reverse course once attacks on high-profile individuals began.
Another senator from Borno North, an APC member, labeled the directive “dangerous and ill-timed,” warning that it would leave legislators and other prominent figures more vulnerable amid the country’s worsening security landscape.
The dispute unfolded openly on the Senate and House floors on November 26, with numerous lawmakers voicing their concerns over the president’s order.
A video of one senator’s remarks has circulated.
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