President Bola Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police personnel assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that officers be redeployed to core policing duties amid heightened security concerns nationwide.
The directive followed a high-level security meeting held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the decision in a statement, explaining that the move is aimed at strengthening police presence in communities, especially in areas where stations remain understaffed.
“President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for VIPs.
”Henceforth, police authorities will redeploy these officers to concentrate on their core policing roles,” Onanuga said.
Under the new directive, individuals requiring personal security will no longer automatically receive police protection.
Instead, they will be expected to request armed escorts from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The decision comes amid a surge in abductions and violent attacks across several states, raising public concern about the capacity of security agencies to respond effectively.
Onanuga noted that the President is committed to significantly improving police visibility and capacity.
To that end, Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, alongside collaborative efforts with state governments to upgrade training facilities nationwide.
“In view of the current security challenges, the President is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” he added.
The directive followed a series of high-profile kidnappings, including attacks in Kwara and Kebbi states, which prompted the President to cancel his participation in the G20 meeting in South Africa to directly oversee national security efforts.
Tinubu had earlier tasked security agencies with intensifying search-and-rescue operations and strengthening preventive deployments across vulnerable regions.
