President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has implemented a significant security reform that mandates the withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria.
The decision, announced after a high-level security meeting in Abuja, will see these officers redeployed to their core policing duties, particularly in communities where security presence has been critically low.
According to the new directive, VIPs seeking armed escorts must now obtain such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), marking a major shift in Nigeria’s security structure.
Many remote communities currently suffer from inadequate police manpower, a problem the President aims to resolve by restoring officers to community-focused operations. The move is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening public safety amid ongoing security challenges.
To further support the initiative, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The federal government is also collaborating with state authorities to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Top military and intelligence leaders—including Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and DSS Director-General Tosin Adeola Ajayi—were present at the Abuja meeting where the directive was finalized.
The announcement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.