President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel assigned to guard Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that officers be redeployed to strengthen core policing operations nationwide.
The directive, issued during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja, is aimed at boosting police presence in communities struggling with inadequate manpower.
According to the presidential order, “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Many rural and semi-urban areas currently operate with insufficient police numbers, a situation the administration believes undermines efforts to secure lives and property.
Tinubu, who expressed concern over the nation’s security landscape, said the withdrawal of officers from VIP escorts would free up manpower urgently needed to reinforce police formations.
He noted that his administration remains committed to restoring public confidence in law enforcement agencies.
To further enhance policing capacity, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers, while the Federal Government works with state governments to modernise and expand police training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s meeting had in attendance 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 the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The statement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on November 23, 2025.