President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide, directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The directive was issued on Sunday during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, attended by service chiefs, security heads, and intelligence officials. The meeting reviewed the current security situation across the country and explored measures to enhance frontline operations, particularly in underserved and vulnerable communities.
Under the new directive, VIPs who require armed protection will now obtain such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rather than the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The policy aims to address the significant manpower gap within the police force and boost its operational presence, especially in rural and remote areas grappling with persistent security threats.
The Presidency explained that the redeployment forms part of a broader initiative to reposition the police for more effective public safety and law enforcement. President Tinubu has already approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, alongside ongoing collaborations between the Federal Government and state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Those in attendance at the security meeting included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
