Tension over the Federal Government’s new security directive surfaced on the Senate floor on Wednesday as Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central protested the withdrawal of his sole police orderly.
Ningi argued that the measure, aimed at redeploying police officers to core security duties nationwide, should be applied uniformly to all high-profile Nigerians. He contended that while his security aide was withdrawn, many influential figures—including top politicians, business leaders, and entertainers—continued to enjoy full police protection.
“It should be done across the board—from the office of the President to the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, ministers, governors, business concerns, and even the sons and daughters of political office holders,” Ningi said. “I have seen singers and foreign business owners with police escorts. But a senator has his only orderly withdrawn? It is unfair.”
He called on the Senate leadership to task its Committee on Police Affairs with investigating what he described as “selective enforcement,” emphasizing that lawmakers regularly face public exposure and security risks linked to their legislative duties.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, presiding over the plenary, acknowledged Ningi’s concerns, noting that the issue had been discussed at a Senate leadership meeting on Tuesday. He directed the Committee on Police Affairs to review the matter and report back.
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Barau assured senators that President Bola Tinubu’s directive, which aims to strengthen internal security and reposition the Nigeria Police Force, was not intended to deprive lawmakers of necessary protection. He also reaffirmed the Senate’s support for the administration’s broader security reforms, stressing that any selective enforcement must be addressed to maintain public confidence.
The debate highlights the ongoing national discussion over the routine deployment of police officers for private security—a practice critics argue undermines public safety and stretches the police force thin.