President Bola Tinubu has directed that police personnel currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) be withdrawn and redeployed to core policing duties across the country.
The announcement was made in a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the decision followed a high-level security meeting held on Sunday between President Tinubu and heads of the police, army, air force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.
According to the statement, the new directive mandates that “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
The presidency noted that many communities — especially remote areas — have been left with an inadequate number of police officers, making it increasingly difficult to ensure safety and respond to threats. The president, it said, is committed to strengthening grassroots security by increasing police visibility and presence nationwide.
The statement further revealed that President Tinubu has already approved the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers. The federal government is also partnering with state governments to enhance police training institutions across the country in preparation for the expanded workforce.
Those present at Sunday’s 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 DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
What you should know
The withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs marks a major shift in Nigeria’s security strategy.
With rising insecurity and limited manpower at local stations, the move aims to redirect police strength toward community safety, while VIPs will now rely on the NSCDC for protection.
