Senator Ali Ndume has called for the withdrawal of excessive police personnel attached to lawmakers and other VIPs, arguing that security agencies should focus more on protecting communities and ordinary Nigerians.
Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has criticised the continued deployment of large numbers of police officers to protect politicians and their families.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ndume said the number of police officers assigned to some lawmakers was excessive and questioned the practice of providing police protection to relatives of public officials.
According to the senator, some lawmakers have police officers attached to their wives and children, despite the security challenges facing many communities across the country.
“I expected not to see so many police officers in the National Assembly today, but the place is still crowded with police,” Ndume said.
He also questioned why some lawmakers’ family members should have police protection when many ordinary Nigerians continue to face insecurity.
Ndume Questions VIP Convoys
Ndume also raised concerns about the size of convoys used by politicians and other high-profile public officials.
He cited the movement of some lawmakers’ relatives around Abuja with security personnel and convoys as an example of what he described as excessive protection.
The senator argued that improving security across the Federal Capital Territory would reduce the need for politicians and other VIPs to move around with large numbers of police officers.
He also criticised the size of President Bola Tinubu’s convoy, arguing that excessive security arrangements for VIPs should be reconsidered if the government succeeds in making Abuja safer.
Senator Says He Does Not Need Extra Police Protection
When asked about police officers assigned to him, Ndume said he only retained an orderly for official and procedural purposes.
He indicated that he had rejected additional police personnel that had previously been assigned to him.
His position comes amid the Federal Government’s efforts to review the use of police officers for VIP protection and redirect more personnel towards frontline policing and communities facing security challenges.
Ndume Raises Concerns Over Security Monitoring
During the interview, Ndume also questioned claims about Nigeria’s ability to use satellite technology to monitor criminal activities and support security operations.
He disputed the effectiveness of the country’s satellite-monitoring capacity and linked the issue to continuing insecurity in parts of the country.
The senator referred to the reported abduction of teenage girls in his constituency and questioned why security agencies had not been able to locate them.
Ndume also compared Nigeria’s satellite capacity with that of the United States, arguing that Nigeria needs stronger technological capabilities to support intelligence gathering and security operations.
Police Withdrawal From VIP Duties
The Federal Government has been moving to withdraw police officers from some VIP protection duties and redeploy personnel to areas where additional policing is needed.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had announced the recall and redeployment of thousands of officers as part of efforts to strengthen policing across the country.
The policy has generated debate over how security personnel should be distributed between VIP protection and community policing.
Ndume’s comments add to that debate, with the senator arguing that public security should take priority over excessive protection for politicians and their families.
EBN TV’s Take
The debate over police protection for public officials goes beyond the number of officers assigned to individual politicians. It also raises a broader question about how Nigeria can balance the legitimate security needs of public officials with the need to provide adequate protection for ordinary citizens.
As the Federal Government continues its security reforms, the effectiveness of the police redeployment will ultimately depend on whether more officers are available where communities need them most and whether those deployments translate into improved public safety.
EBN TV will continue to follow developments around police reform, VIP security and Nigeria’s wider security situation.
Source: Channels Television’s Politics Today interview with Senator Ali Ndume; statements attributed to relevant Nigerian security and government officials.
EBN TV — Truth First.