By Ayo Ayodele
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs), ordering that they be redeployed to strengthen core policing duties across the country.
The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday at the State House, Abuja, with the heads of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) in attendance.
According to the Presidency, VIPs who still require close protection will now be provided with armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the police.
The President’s decision follows concerns over the low number of police officers available in many parts of the country, especially in rural and remote communities where security presence is limited. The insufficient manpower, the statement noted, has hampered efforts to protect lives and property amid rising security challenges.
President Tinubu said boosting police visibility at the grassroots has become a national priority, and emphasized that the country cannot afford to have a large portion of its police workforce tied down to VIP duties while communities remain vulnerable.
To address the manpower gap, the President has already approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, while efforts are underway—through federal-state collaboration—to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Those present at the meeting include 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 DSS Director-General, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.