President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel assigned to provide security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that they be redeployed to strengthen core policing duties nationwide.
The directive, announced on Sunday after a high-level security meeting in Abuja, was disclosed in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu said the decision was necessary to address the shortage of police presence in many parts of the country—particularly remote communities—where understaffed stations struggle to respond to security threats.
Under the new policy, VIPs seeking armed protection will now be required to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), freeing police operatives to focus on crime prevention and public safety.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement read.
The president also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers as part of ongoing reforms, with the federal and state governments collaborating to upgrade training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s meeting was attended by top security chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. 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, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
