President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that they be redeployed to perform core policing functions in communities, Peak Newspaper reports
The decision followed a high-level security meeting held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with service chiefs and heads of security agencies in attendance.
According to the directive, VIPs requiring security escorts will now rely on armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as police manpower is to be refocused on strengthening national security operations.
The move comes amid concerns that many communities—particularly in remote and rural areas—are severely understaffed, with police stations operating with minimal personnel despite rising security threats. By withdrawing officers from VIP duties, the federal government aims to boost police presence and improve response capacity nationwide.
President Tinubu, who has repeatedly emphasized the need for comprehensive security reforms, has also approved the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers. The federal government is working with state governments to upgrade police training facilities as part of broader efforts to rebuild the country’s security architecture.
Those present at the Sunday meeting included 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 (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on November 23, 2025.
