President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria, ordering that they be redeployed to focus on core policing duties.
The directive was issued during a security meeting on Sunday in Abuja, attended by top military and security officials, including 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 Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring personal security will now obtain protection from well-armed personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The move aims to address the shortage of police officers in many parts of the country, particularly in remote areas, and to enhance the safety of communities amid ongoing security challenges.
President Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is working with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide, signalling a push to strengthen law enforcement presence across the country.
