Senator Ali Ndume, serving as the Senate Chief Whip, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to recall the police officers currently assigned as orderlies to National Assembly members and other politicians across Nigeria.
During his appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday, Ndume expressed his disapproval of the extensive security detail often seen with lawmakers and other high-profile individuals.
Highlighting the imbalance in the distribution of security resources, Ndume criticized the practice of individual senators and members of the House of Representatives moving around with multiple police officers, noting that some even assign security to their family members.
He argued that with Nigeria’s police force numbering around 300,000 officers, the country lacks adequate manpower to ensure public safety, thus necessitating the withdrawal of VIP orderlies.
To address the security challenges facing the nation, including banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency, Ndume advocated for significant increases in the manpower of both the police and the military.
He suggested that the police force should be expanded to two million officers, while the military should grow to 500,000 personnel. Ndume urged President Bola Tinubu to fully support security agencies by providing them with the necessary funding and weaponry.
Despite his stance on bolstering the nation’s security forces, Ndume expressed reservations about the introduction of state police.
Citing potential misuse by state governors, he mentioned that he would not support the amendment of the constitution to include state police in the ongoing constitutional amendment process.
Ndume’s comments reflect broader concerns about the allocation of security resources and the need for effective strategies to combat Nigeria’s security issues.
