Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Friday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the directive withdrawing police orderlies from members of the National Assembly, citing concerns over the safety of lawmakers.
Akpabio made the plea during the presentation of the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, warning that some legislators feared they might be unable to return home safely following the withdrawal of their security details.
“As we direct the security agencies to withdraw policemen from critical areas, some of the National Assembly said I should let you know they may not be able to go home today,” he said. “On that note, we plead with Mr President for a review of the decision.”
President Tinubu had on November 23 ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons, directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties nationwide. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision followed a security meeting with service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services over rising security concerns.
Under the directive, VIPs requiring protection are to seek security support from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as part of efforts to strengthen police presence in communities, especially insecure and remote areas. Tinubu later reaffirmed the order on December 10, directing the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Civil Defence Corps to ensure immediate replacement of withdrawn escorts to prevent exposure to danger.
The decision, however, sparked tension in the Senate, with lawmakers alleging selective enforcement. Senator Abdul Ningi had complained that while some senators lost their only police orderly without notice, ministers, business figures and relatives of political office holders continued to move with multiple security personnel, calling for uniform application of the directive across all public officials.
