Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has dismissed President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs, saying the policy is unlikely to move beyond public rhetoric.

Mr Sani’s comment follows the president’s order that police officers attached to VIP escorts across the country be withdrawn and redeployed to core policing duties.

According to a statement on Sunday by the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu gave the directive during a security meeting held in Abuja with the heads of the police, air force, army, and the director-general of the State Security Service.

Under the new directive, VIPs who require armed protection are expected to seek such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Reacting on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Mr Sani described the move as a welcome step given Nigeria’s worsening security situation. He, however, expressed doubt about its implementation.

“Withdrawal of police from VIPs is a good idea and good policy statement in view of the nation’s urgent security needs, but it will only begin and end up as a statement,” Mr Sani said.

Mr Sani recalled that similar directives by previous administrations failed to materialise due to entrenched interests within the police hierarchy and among political elites who depend heavily on police escorts.