Presidency Calls on Nigerians to Flag VIPs Still Using Police Escorts

The Presidency has urged Nigerians to assist in enforcing President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from private individuals and VIPs.

Daniel Bwala, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, made the appeal during a TVC interview on Sunday.

He explained that public involvement would help strengthen compliance with the policy, which is intended to free up police personnel for essential security responsibilities.

Bwala encouraged citizens to record and report any instances where police officers continue to accompany individuals who are no longer authorised to receive such escorts.

“If you identify a celebrity, a private sector person, or any individual who has police against the executive order of the president, as much as you can, capture evidence, whether a photograph or video,” he said.

He clarified that the directive does not completely eliminate police protection for all VIPs, noting that some government officials will continue to receive security support due to the nature of their roles.

“The order of the president to withdraw police from VIPs is not all-encompassing. There are critical people in government who will still have one form of security or another,” he added.

Bwala further noted that where security protection is still necessary, agencies such as the State Security Service or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps may take over instead of the police.

“It could be SSS, Civil Defence… but police have no business being with you,” he said.

He emphasized that the directive is part of the administration’s broader strategy to optimise security resource deployment, curb misuse of police manpower, and improve overall public safety.

The federal government has recently intensified reforms across security agencies, arguing that a large number of officers currently attached to VIPs are needed for frontline policing duties.

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