Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector-General Police, have concluded arrangements to enforce the presidential directive on the withdrawal of policemen from Very Important Personalities (VIPs) who are not entitled to their services.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission, in Abuja on Tuesday.
It stated that a high level monitoring team had been deployed to the nation’s airports, highways and other public places to enforce the presidential directive.
The statement stated that the Chairman of the commission, Mr Mike Okiro, said the team had the powers to stop VIPs’ on the highways and airports to confirm their status.
He said that any erring VIP or policeman caught in such unauthorised beat would be prosecuted.
Okiro said the commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would enforce the presidential directive to the latter.
He stressed that, henceforth, only authorised government officials and VIPs’ would be entitled to police security.
Okiro noted that the nation could not be battling with inadequate Police Force while majority of these scarce officers were in the service of few privileged Nigerians.
“Nigeria Police will now be structured to do its primary duties of providing internal security and protecting lives and property,’’ Okiro said.
He said that commission would give the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force the required support and encouragement to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness.
The chairman warned that the commission would not hesitate to discipline any police officer who flouts the presidential directive by hanging onto these VIPs’ for pecuniary gains.
