President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, marking a significant shift in security deployment and resource allocation.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. He said the decision was part of the resolutions reached during the President’s high-level security meeting with Service Chiefs in Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the move is intended to return the Nigeria Police Force to its primary responsibilities and strengthen its presence in communities dealing with rising insecurity.
He explained that under the new policy, VIPs seeking armed escorts will no longer receive them directly from the police. Instead, they will be required to apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Quoting the President’s directive, Onanuga said, “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Onanuga noted that many remote and vulnerable communities across the country have suffered from low police presence due to the deployment of officers as personal escorts to influential individuals.
As part of efforts to address the manpower deficit, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers, while also collaborating with state governments to modernise and expand police training facilities nationwide.
The statement added, “In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.”
The security meeting, held on Sunday, was attended by:
- Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu
- Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke
- Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
- Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi
The new directive is expected to significantly alter VIP security protocols while redirecting much-needed personnel back into community policing and frontline security operations.
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