Residents of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, have expressed mixed reactions to President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive withdrawing security escorts from VIPs and redeploying them to bolster regular policing nationwide.
The policy, announced earlier in the week, seeks to address escalating security challenges by increasing the number of officers available for community patrols, rapid response operations and general public safety duties.
Speaking with our correspondent, Uwakmfon-Abasi Walter and several other residents welcomed the development, noting that it could significantly enhance the safety of ordinary Nigerians who confront security threats daily without the benefit of personal protection.
However, some residents voiced concerns about the implementation of the policy. They warned that without strict supervision, officers reassigned from VIP duties may not remain consistently deployed in the communities where they are needed most. Others argued that while reducing VIP escorts is a step in the right direction, the government must simultaneously invest in better equipment, improved welfare and enhanced intelligence-gathering capabilities to ensure the policy yields long-term results.
As the directive takes effect across the country, Uyo residents remain cautiously optimistic that a more equitable distribution of security personnel will boost public safety and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s security architecture.