President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country. The directive was issued on Sunday during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the officers previously assigned as escorts and personal protection for VIPs will now be redeployed to core policing duties within communities.
Under the new policy, VIPs who require security backup must now seek armed protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the Nigeria Police Force.
The presidency explained that the decision aims to increase police presence in towns and remote communities where many stations are either understaffed or lack sufficient manpower to respond to security threats.
“Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” the statement said. It added that the President wants police officers to “concentrate on their core police duties.”
To strengthen the move, President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers nationwide. Plans are underway to upgrade police training facilities in collaboration with state governments, ensuring that the new recruits are well-prepared for modern policing challenges.
The presidency noted that the withdrawal of VIP escorts is part of a broader security strategy aimed at boosting law enforcement capacity and improving public safety across the country.
The new directive takes immediate effect.
