President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, redirecting them to frontline policing roles amid rising security concerns.
The directive was announced in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that police personnel currently assigned to VIP protection would be redeployed to reinforce security operations nationwide.
The order followed a high-level security meeting chaired by President Tinubu on Sunday in Abuja, with the police, the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) in attendance.
According to the new directive, VIPs who still require armed protection will now be required to obtain such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The statement reads: “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.”
It continued: “In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.”
Onanuga also revealed that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers, while the federal government is collaborating with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s security meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
