Senate President Godswill Akpabio has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the recent directive withdrawing police escorts attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), warning that the move could prevent lawmakers from safely returning to their constituencies.
Akpabio made the appeal on Friday while delivering a welcome address at a joint sitting of the National Assembly convened to receive President Tinubu’s proposed 2026 budget.
Speaking on behalf of federal lawmakers, the Senate President said many members had asked him to formally relay their concerns to the President during the session. According to him, the withdrawal of police personnel assigned to VIPs has raised serious security worries among legislators.
“As security agencies are being directed to redeploy officers from certain areas, some members of the National Assembly have expressed fears that they may not be able to travel home safely,” Akpabio said. “They asked that I bring this to your attention, Mr President, and respectfully appeal for a review of the decision.”
President Tinubu had earlier ordered the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs as part of emergency security measures aimed at strengthening police presence in communities grappling with insecurity across the country.
