President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police personnel attached to Very Important Persons, across the country, ordering that the officers be redeployed to strengthen regular policing duties nationwide.
The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja. In attendance were 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, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
According to the Presidency, the decision is part of efforts to boost police presence in communities grappling with insecurity and inadequate manpower.
“President Tinubu wants police officers to return to their primary responsibilities of protecting lives and property,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
“VIPs who require security will now have to request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Many remote areas across Nigeria currently have limited police personnel, a shortage the President believes undermines effective security operations. The new directive, he said, aims to address this gap.
“In view of ongoing security challenges, the President is keen on strengthening policing at the community level,” Onanuga added.
To further reinforce manpower, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers.
The Federal Government is also working with state authorities to upgrade police training facilities across the country.
