Tinubu Orders Withdrawal of Policemen from VIP Security Duties

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, directed  the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties.

Speaking at a two-day retreat for the directorate cadre of the Ministry of Police Affairs themed: “Re: Envisioning the Ministry of Police Affairs for Effective Internal Security: Strengthening Administration and Management Functions for Resilience and Efficiency”, Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia  Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said President Tinubu gave the directive in furtherance of the implementation of the police reform report.

She said the key mandates of the ministry included “developing and implementing a harmonised police reform report, amending the Police Act, executing Mr President’s directive on the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties, and developing a community policing strategy.”

The minister asserted  that the mandates were not mere tasks but transformative initiatives that could enhance internal security in Nigeria.

She said the management retreat would inspire a collective commitment to align efforts of the ministerial mandate to contribute to the realisation of  President Tinubu’s  vision for a renewed, highly effective Nigeria Police.

She recalled that the Nigeria Police found itself at a critical juncture, and presently struggling with the consequences of decades of neglect that hindered its ability to fulfill its constitutional mandate.

“The Ministry of Police Affairs has also not been spared. However, given Mr President’s commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry is now positioned at the forefront of the police transformation agenda and it must rise to the challenge.

“The ministry must bear this weighty responsibility of ensuring coordination and creating the enabling frameworks to steer the Nigeria Police Force towards improved technical and operational effectiveness,” she said.

The minister further stated that management staff must demonstrate unwavering commitment and the will required to yield tangible results adding that the Police Inspectorate Department, in particular, should evolve its operations to focus on robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning.

“Reports must be factual, practical, evidence-based and serve as critical tools for enhancing police performance.

“It must champion the review of the curriculum of the training institutions to ensure they are reflective of the evolving landscape of law enforcement, incorporating contemporary practices and international standards,” she said. 

The minister charged the police service and planning, research, and statistics department to ensure administrative optimisation and relevant policies as well as procedures for the police to be up to date, adoption of cutting-edge technology, intelligence-led, technology-driven, inclusive, and community-based police force in Nigeria. 

“Fostering partnerships with renowned research institutions and staying current with global trends, this department will play a vital role in shaping evidence-based strategies for the Nigeria Police Force,” she said.

In his goodwill message, the representative of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, who is also the Head of the Conflict and Security Programme (Nigeria and Lake Chad Basin), Mr. Annup Vyas, said the United Kingdom was committed to Nigeria’s police reforms and ready to do more in the spirit of partnership.

He added that they were interested in the plan for the future, how to adapt and identify new opportunities that would help the needs of the Nigerian system.