President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country in what is seen as a major restructuring of security deployment in Nigeria.
The directive was announced on Sunday in a statement issued by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, following the President’s high-level security meeting with Service Chiefs at the State House, Abuja.
According to Onanuga, the decision is aimed at returning the Nigeria Police Force to its core responsibilities and boosting its presence in communities battling rising insecurity.
He noted that the over-deployment of officers to VIPs has weakened security at the grassroots, leaving many remote areas vulnerable.
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“VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),” the statement read. Under the new arrangement, VIPs seeking armed escorts must officially apply to the NSCDC rather than the police.
Onanuga explained that the President is deeply concerned about the shortage of police officers available to protect ordinary citizens. Many police stations nationwide, he said, lack adequate personnel due to the high number of officers assigned to private individuals.
To address this gap, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, with plans underway—alongside state governments—to upgrade training facilities across the country.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement added.
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Sunday’s security meeting was attended by top security chiefs, including:
- Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu
- Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke
- Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun
- Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi