Professor calls for end to excessive police deployment to VIPs in Nigeria

Omololu Soyombo, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, has called for an end to the excessive deployment of police officers to protect Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in Nigeria.

During his valedictory lecture, Soyombo argued that police resources should be redirected toward core policing responsibilities, such as protecting vulnerable communities and institutions. He specifically highlighted the need for enhanced security in schools following frequent attacks and abductions of students and teachers.

To improve national security, Soyombo advocated for the recruitment of more personnel to match the growing population and emphasized that modern security efforts must be technology-driven. He noted that well-equipped officers are more effective than large numbers of ill-equipped personnel. Additionally, he called for improved welfare, better conditions of service, and adequate insurance coverage for the families of security officers killed in the line of duty.