Police withdrawal: Some lawmakers may not go home today — Akpabio urges Tinubu to reconsider order

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the directive withdrawing police orderlies from members of the National Assembly, warning that the decision poses serious safety risks to lawmakers.

Akpabio made the appeal on Friday while President Tinubu presented the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly. He told the president that some lawmakers feared they might be unable to return home safely following the withdrawal of their police escorts.

Addressing the president during the session, Akpabio said some members of the legislature had asked him to formally convey their concerns, noting that the absence of police protection could expose them to danger. He appealed for a review of the directive.

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. The decision was aimed at strengthening police presence in communities, particularly in areas facing security challenges.

According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive followed a security meeting involving service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, amid growing security concerns across the country.

Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring security were advised to seek protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as part of the Federal Government’s effort to optimise police resources.

Tinubu later reaffirmed the directive on December 10, shortly before presiding over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council. He expressed displeasure over delays in implementation and instructed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work closely with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Civil Defence Corps to immediately replace withdrawn escorts where necessary, to avoid exposing individuals to harm.

The directive has, however, generated tension within the Senate, with lawmakers expressing concerns over what they described as selective enforcement. Senator Ningi, speaking on the matter, said the withdrawal should apply uniformly to all public office holders, including the president, vice president, legislative leaders and ministers.

He lamented that his only police orderly was withdrawn without notice despite his long years in public service, while some ministers, business figures and relatives of political office holders reportedly continue to move with multiple security personnel. He described the situation as unfair and questioned why a serving senator would be left without protection while private individuals retain police escorts.