President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to guard Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that they be redeployed to frontline policing roles within communities nationwide.
The directive was issued on Sunday during a high-level security meeting at the State House, Abuja, attended by senior security chiefs.
Those present included 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.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who require protective services will henceforth obtain them from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which will provide the necessary armed personnel.
The decision forms part of a broader initiative to strengthen police presence in underserved communities, particularly remote areas where inadequate manpower has limited effective law enforcement.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement said.
To support the redeployment, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel and is collaborating with state governments to upgrade training facilities across the country.
The new strategy is expected to enhance frontline policing as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to tackle rising security threats nationwide.
