Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the directives ordering the withdrawal of police officers from Very Important Persons (VIPs).
Naijaonpoint recalls that Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of all police personnel attached to VIPs and their redeployment to core policing duties.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs requiring protection will now be assigned armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The aim, he added, is to free up police manpower for frontline duties, especially in underserved communities, and strengthen Nigeria’s overall security response.
Reacting to the development, Usama, while speaking at the launch of his biographies, “Giant Footprints and A Policeman Personified”, expressed strong optimism that Tinubu’s recent directive would succeed.
Usman recalled that previous attempts to withdraw police officers failed because such directives were issued by police chiefs rather than by the President.
Baba emphasised that documenting his policing journey through his biographies would enrich national discourse on security, inspire others, and offer policymakers and law enforcement professionals valuable insights.
He said, “I am profoundly grateful to the President of the Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his consistent action directed at restoring the dwindling police primacy in the internal security architecture.
“This was again made manifest by the recent presidential order on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to undeserving personalities.
“As far as my memory can lead me, this is the first time that such an order will emanate directly from a sitting President.
“We have tried to do it as IGPs, but we couldn’t make it. Let’s see how this one will work.”
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