The Senate on Wednesday called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the recent directive withdrawing police personnel from Very Important Persons, urging that lawmakers be exempted due to what they described as heightened security risks.
The appeal followed a complaint by Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Kebbi Central, who informed the chamber that his only police orderly had been taken off duty. He expressed concern that while lawmakers were losing their security cover, relatives of top political figures, foreign business executives, entertainers, and other individuals continued to move around with sizeable security escorts.
Presiding over the session, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said the Senate leadership had already met on Tuesday to review the implications of the directive. He disclosed that the leadership agreed to formally request the president to restore the withdrawn officers and exempt members of the National Assembly from the order.
Mr Jibrin voiced optimism that President Tinubu would heed the appeal, describing him as a leader open to constructive feedback.
The presidential directive, issued on 23 November, mandated the immediate withdrawal of police officers from VIPs nationwide. The Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has since commenced full enforcement of the order.
