The African Democratic Congress has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s order directing the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, saying the move is only for public show and does not address Nigeria’s worsening security situation. The party said the country is facing serious threats such as terrorism, banditry, and mass kidnappings, and these problems cannot be solved through media-friendly actions.
The party explained that similar orders were given earlier in 2025, but they did not bring real results or improve safety across the country. It argued that simply moving police officers away from VIPs will not make them effective in tackling heavy security threats, because most of them are not trained or prepared for complex combat situations.
The ADC also questioned claims that the move would free up about 100,000 police officers for frontline duties. It said the real issue is not the number of officers alone, but their ability, training, and equipment. The party added that if the military is already struggling against criminals, it is unrealistic to believe that unprepared officers can easily fix the situation.
The party further criticized the plan to replace the withdrawn police officers with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, saying the agency is mainly trained for community safety and disaster response, not counter-terrorism or high-level combat operations.
The ADC called on the federal government to stop relying on public announcements and instead focus on real action by developing a clear national security plan that includes modern training, strong intelligence gathering, and proper coordination between security agencies. It also asked the government to provide clear data and operational plans on how redeployed officers will be supported on the field.
The party concluded that Nigeria needs a serious overhaul of its security system to deal with the rising threats across the country, rather than relying on actions that only create headlines.