President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned as security escorts to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that the personnel be redeployed to frontline policing duties.
The directive, issued during a high-level security meeting held Sunday in Abuja, is part of a sweeping effort to strengthen police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where shortages of officers have hindered security operations.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs who require armed protection must henceforth request such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), not the police.
The President expressed concern that the diversion of officers to personal security duties has weakened the capacity of police formations nationwide at a time of heightened security challenges.
To reinforce the force, he has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel and pledged enhanced collaboration with state governments to upgrade training facilities.
Present at the meeting were Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The directive signals a major shift in Nigeria’s security management, aiming to refocus police resources on public safety rather than elite protection.
