President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to guard Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that they be redeployed to strengthen policing in underserved communities.
The directive was announced in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who said police personnel will now focus on their “core police duties” as part of a broader security overhaul.
According to the statement, the decision followed a high-level security meeting held on Sunday between the president and the heads of the police, army, Air Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
The presidential directive stated that “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Shedding light on the move, the statement added, “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.”
The statement also confirmed that the president has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers as part of efforts to reinforce national security infrastructure.
The federal government is reportedly working with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s security meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General 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.
