Security and Police withdrawal from VIPs By Carl Umegboro, ACIArb (UK)

PURSUANT to Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, as amended, security of lives and properties of the people is a fundamental duty of the federal government of Nigeria.  The government discharges the onerous task primarily through the Nigeria Police Force. Over the years, outcries over under-funding and short-staffing of the Police have never subsided.

Incidentally, the inadequate personnel maintained with public funds are customized, constantly abused by cash-and-carry for VIP services, and converted to tools for status symbols and ostentatious displays by the opulent class against the primary duty of protecting the entire populations as designed. The new development as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris on immediate withdrawal of policemen attached to some political office holders, businessmen and very important personalities (VIPs) deserves public commendation as the aberration over the years is quite unfortunate, despicable and abhorrent.

By the allotment of Police personnel exclusively to some persons, it implies that the personnel’s national duty shifts from protecting the masses to specifically guarding the individual attached to and thereby defeating the agency’s core objectives. It is arguable to state that by the private guard duty by personnel of the agency, some personnel have been reduced to commodities for hire-purchase, thus available to only the affluent on pecuniary interests. And in most cases, the assigned escorts become tools of intimidation against the masses both on public roads and neighborhoods, and may knowingly or insentiently aid their assigned masters to ferry lethal weapons from one location to another without interruptions. Thus, the action is apropos particularly at this critical period of security challenges.

Sensibly, individuals desirous to have special security should utilize the services of private security operatives as done all over the word. By so doing, employment ratio will be mechanically boosted alongside the economy as security companies will inevitably enlarge their workforces to meet the demands. And again, such private guard services by security companies will be appropriately bid and paid for rather than the usual unfixed patronages to private pockets in the security agencies. At most, with memorandum of understanding, lethal weapons may be licensed with a mechanism for monitoring their uses. Nonetheless, such facility should be exclusively for ex-personnel or stringently trained workforce with adequate orientation on the use of lethal weapons.  Apparently, government security agencies and their personnel are statutorily for the society at large and not for a class of citizens. It is aberrational for some advantaged individuals to hijack the security apparatus of a government for private use including errands.

Obviously, the pandemonium is uncalled for as the IGP’s directives applies to all VIPs, businessmen and chieftains of both the ruling and opposition parties. Businessmen and politicians in dire need of private guards should approach security companies for their desirable numbers.  Perhaps, it was silent that prior to the arrest of the notorious suspect on kidnapping and armed robbery in the custody, less than four mobile armed policemen were attached for his private guard duty excluding stationed personnel guiding his house. Honestly, the new development should be devoid of politics but holistic reflection. The major challenge is pragmatism knowing that the policy most likely, will be battled by the moguls, magnates and bourgeois in the society. Logically, as security challenges increase every day, some drastic measures must be invoked especially maximizing the personnel at hand. Interestingly, if police are detached as directed from individuals and assigned to the general society, the VIPs are also covered since they live amidst the people in the society. It is also a common knowledge that most riggings and electoral flaws are perpetrated by politicians and businessmen protected by the Police. Thus, a nation’s security personnel saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and properties for all citizenry cannot be reduced to private use for some persons, sadly, most times for unjustified intimidations.

By the new government’s policy, private security operatives in the country will possibly, overwhelmingly boom as there will be increase in demands of their services by VIPs, businessmen and politicians. No sensible government will tolerate its security personnel numerically reduced amidst obvious insecurity in horrible dimensions in different parts of the country or redundant for mere frivolities. It is blunders to behold a nation’s security personnel overlook lawless and felonious activities in the society that threaten public peace and order but reservedly dedicated to guard only a citizen. Meanwhile, at the end of the month, payment vouchers are debited against the government as their remunerations are consolidated and disbursed from public funds. To sum, it is a gaffe to convert the public security personnel to the exclusive use of a class of citizens for mere shows.

Umegboro, public affairs analyst and an associate of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom)  (07057101974 SMS only)