Following President Tinubu’s directive to drastically cut the number of police officers attached to VIPs, Department of State Services personnel are now reportedly lobbying to fill the lucrative escort slots. The shake-up has created a scramble among politicians and business elites seeking alternative state-backed or private protection.
Security insiders say demand for bodyguards has surged, with some VIPs turning to licensed private outfits while others quietly court DSS teams. The development raises questions about whether security operatives are drifting towards a two-tier system where those who can pay enjoy premium protection.
Analysts warn that unless surplus police personnel are redeployed into community safety, the original goal of boosting frontline policing may be lost. They also argue that any monetisation of official escorts risks deepening inequality in access to security in a country already battling rampant kidnapping and banditry.
Source: Punch – “Police withdrawal, DSS officers lobby for VIP escort roles”.
