President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to provide personal security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, the officers will now be redeployed to focus on core policing duties in communities nationwide.
The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
According to the Presidency, VIPs who require security support going forward will now request armed protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the Nigeria Police Force.
The move comes amid growing concerns about inadequate police presence in many parts of the country, particularly rural and remote communities where police stations are severely understaffed.
The President believes redeploying officers from VIP assignments will strengthen community security and enhance the capacity of the police to protect citizens.
To further address Nigeria’s security challenges, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers.
The Federal Government is also partnering with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide, ensuring improved capacity and readiness.
The administration says these reforms are part of a broader effort to reinforce national security and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
