President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive for the immediate withdrawal of all Nigeria Police Force personnel assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs), redirecting them to their primary policing responsibilities,
The announcement was contained in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the decision followed a high-level security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja, attended by heads of the police, army, air force, and the Department of State Services (DSS). The President emphasized the need to strengthen police presence across the country, especially in underserved and remote communities where police numbers are critically low.
The directive mandates that VIPs requiring security henceforth will be provided with well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the police.
President Tinubu explained that the move is part of efforts to address the nation’s ongoing security challenges and ensure that police officers are available to carry out essential law-enforcement duties.
To further boost police manpower, the President has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers. The Federal Government is partnering with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
The meeting was attended by 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 DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
— Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy)
November 23, 2025
