Tinubu Withdraws Police From VIP Protection

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that they be redeployed to core policing duties as part of a sweeping reform to strengthen national security.

The directive was announced on Sunday during a high-level security meeting at the State House in Abuja, attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General 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 (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

Under the new policy, VIPs requiring armed protection must now request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than drawing from already overstretched police resources. The President’s move aims to boost police presence in underserved and vulnerable communities, where stations often operate with minimal manpower.

Many rural and remote areas currently have only a handful of officers, a situation that has hindered effective law enforcement and response to attacks, especially amid rising security concerns across several regions.

President Tinubu’s directive is part of a broader push to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for improved national coverage and rapid response capability. As part of these reforms, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers—the largest single expansion in recent years.

The federal government is also collaborating with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide, ensuring new recruits and existing personnel are better prepared for modern security challenges.

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At the Sunday meeting, the President received briefings from service chiefs and intelligence heads on the status of ongoing operations and the broader security landscape. The withdrawal of officers from VIP duty is expected to free up thousands of trained operatives who will be reassigned to patrols, investigations, and rapid-response units across the country.

Security analysts note that the reform addresses long-standing criticism that too many officers are assigned to private individuals, politicians, and business figures while communities face critical shortages.

With insecurity topping national debate, President Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen frontline policing, improve inter-agency cooperation, and enhance intelligence-driven operations. Sunday’s directive signals a decisive shift toward a more community-focused police force, with greater presence in cities, towns, and rural settlements.

The President’s office says implementation will begin immediately as part of efforts to restore public confidence and reinforce the state’s capacity to protect lives and property.