Why Disu must implement VIP protection order

A former Deputy Commander-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Sule Momodu has called for full enforcement of withdrawal of police protection from VIPs.

Momodu told newsmen on Sunday in Abuja that the order by President Bola Tinubu to withdraw police protection from VIPs was a step in the right direction.

He urged the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mr Olatunji Disu to activate the section of the Police Act that talked about the use of spy police to guard premises and VIPs.

According to him, the I-G needs to activate the section of the Act with immediate effect because all he needs to do is truly clear in the Act.

He said the first step was to write to the banks, government organisations, and others who needed the protection to formally make a request.

“This will enable him to determine how many personnel to be recruited; and in line with the Act, the training and salary of such people, must be paid by the organisations requesting for them.

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“So, if we go by what the former I-G said, that they withdrew about 10,000 officers attached to VIPs, it means there are 10,000 jobs waiting to be taken,” he said.

He noted that the injection of 10,000 spy police into the system at no cost to the government would increase the number of mainstream police officers, performing police duties in the country.

Momodu also urged the new I-G to consider the welfare of police officers in line with section 20 of the Police Act to ensure optimal service delivery.

The ex-NDLEA DCG said the Act stipulated that police should not earn less than any other better paid law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

He further said that the call for the establishment of state police in the country, was not in the interest of the nation.

According to him, the operation of the current federal system of police can be improved.

“Efforts should be made to revisit and amend some provisions of the existing constitution to make the Nigeria Police Force function effectively.”

Momodu therefore called for the amendment of Section 215 of the Constitution to order Commissioners of Police (CP) to comply with governors’ directive without having to seek clearance from the president.

“A situation whereby a governor will give instructions to a CP and the CP will need clearance before complying does not go well.

“The same provision is the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act, but the lacuna is not there, the governor gives instructions and the state Commandant complies.

“Why is that of the police different? So, we need to amend that portion of the Constitution,” he said.

NAN