…Says Others Still Enjoy Security Protection
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) has criticized the withdrawal of his police orderly, stating that the federal government’s directive on removing police from VIP security is not being applied fairly.
President Bola Tinubu had, on 23 November, ordered the withdrawal of police orderlies from politicians, businesspeople, and other VIPs across the country.
The move was meant to free more officers for regular policing duties as Nigeria struggles with widespread insecurity.
The Inspector-General of Police later confirmed that more than 11,000 officers assigned to VIPs would be recalled.
Speaking during the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Ningi said he was surprised to find that his only police orderly had been withdrawn while many others — including ministers, wealthy business people and even entertainers — still moved around with heavy security escorts.
He said: “I have also seen business people, Chinese and other business concerns… with their compliments of orderlies. I have also seen the daughters and sons of political officeholders having orderlies and security details. I have seen singers having orderlies and complimentary protection.”
Ningi added that he recently saw two ministers “carrying lots of security personnel.”
Expressing frustration, he said he could not understand why a serving senator would be stripped of protection while others who hold no public office still enjoyed police escorts.
“I cannot ever imagine that a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria… only one orderly, and he’s withdrawn, and nothing will happen,” he said.
Ningi asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to direct the Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the matter, saying the National Assembly should not be used as a “scapegoat.”
“Let’s see what happens from the office of the president, to the vice president, to the senate president, to the speaker of the house, to the ministers,” he added.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over plenary, said the issue had already been discussed at a Senate leadership meeting on Tuesday.
He told lawmakers that the matter was being handled formally.
“We expect the outcome of that action to be available to us today in respect of the police orderlies that were withdrawn from the Senate. It is of concern to us,” said Jibrin.
“The chairman of the police affairs committee should take up this matter, conduct a proper investigation, and let us know why the directive of Mr President is being flouted.”
Barau added that the Senate believed the President acted “in good faith” to strengthen internal security and expressed confidence that Ningi’s orderly would be restored.
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