Some residents of Cross River have called for the strict implementation of the presidential directive to withdraw police officers from protection duties with Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The residents who spoke in separate interviews with journalists in Calabar on Monday said selective implementation would defeat the essence of the decision.

The presidency directed the withdrawal of police from VIPs and their deployment to critical need areas across the country.

One of the residents, Mba Ukweni, a senior advocate of Nigeria, said that although this was not the first time such a directive had been issued, strict implementation was critical at the moment.

“If strictly implemented, this will be one of the best decisions to be made by this administration in addressing the security challenges in the country,” he said.

Mr Ukweni expressed worry that about half of the nation’s police workforce was being utilised to protect the elite class.

“The critical security gaps in Nigeria can be traced to excessive deployment of police personnel to the elite. This directive from the president is long overdue,” the lawyer said.

Also speaking, Macphalane Ejah, the executive director of the International Training Research and Advocacy Project (INTRAP), said that such directives had been given several times in the past without strict implementation.

Mr Ejah said the police-citizen ratio in Nigeria remained a challenge, and that such a gap could not be closed by merely withdrawing policemen from VIPs.

The INTRAP executive director said that although the directive was a step in the right direction, Nigeria lacked enough police officers.

“Without fear of contradiction, I have lost faith in statements being made by the government on the issue of insecurity,” he said.

In his view, Richard Inoyo, a human rights advocate, described the decision as purely cosmetic and lacking in genuine commitment.

Mr Inoyo, the country director, Citizens Solution Network, questioned whether the police officers attached to highly placed political leaders would also be withdrawn.

He argued that removing officers from the elite would not tackle the more critical issues of corruption and inequality, which were the major causes of insecurity.

“Insecurity is thriving because leaders have neglected the welfare of the people, which is central to national stability. They do not support policies that ensure fair resource distribution.

“Credible reforms require honesty and reduced privileges for the political and elite classes. It requires genuine efforts to improve citizens’ living conditions,” he said.

Mr Inoyo urged governments at all levels to embrace fairness to make meaningful progress in the campaign against insecurity. 

(NAN)