The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday told Nigerians to ignore what it called overblown criticism after the federal government moved to withdraw police escorts from many very important persons.
The party in a statement, asked people to shrug off what it described as “needless drama and politically motivated hysteria” over the change.
The APC said some opponents were trying to turn the move into a political issue and accused them of treating public institutions “as personal estates.”
The withdrawal follows a presidential directive that ordered police to pull officers from VIP escort duties so they can return to core policing tasks. The Nigeria Police Force has issued guidance telling commanders to enforce the order and said officers still found escorting VIPs without authorisation could be arrested.
The Lagos APC praised President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police for reforms that it said will “prioritise public safety, strengthen community policing, and reinforce discipline across the security architecture.”
The party also stressed the new rule does not remove security for people who are legally entitled to protection.
The change prompted some VIPs to seek protection from other agencies, including the NSCDC and private guards, after police began moving officers back to patrol and investigations.
Police also warned the public about fake memos circulating on social media and asked people to rely only on official statements from the Force.
The Lagos APC said further adjustments in the security sector are likely as officials work to make policing more efficient — and that attempts to politicise the reforms are “dead on arrival.”
