PRESIDENT TINUBU ORDERS THE WITHDRAWAL OF POLICE OFFICERS GUARDING VIPs FOR CORE POLICE DUTIES

opeolumartinNovember 24, 202503 mins

ABUJA, NIGERIA — 25 November, 2025

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to guard Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country. According to the President, the police must now refocus on their primary responsibility of ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order nationwide.

The directive was announced in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. He explained that police personnel previously deployed for VIP protection will henceforth be reassigned to core operational duties to strengthen security presence, especially in underserved and remote communities.

President Tinubu gave the order during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja with the heads of the nation’s security agencies, including the police, army, air force, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring personal protection will now request well-armed security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), reducing pressure on the already-overstretched police force.

The President expressed concern that many parts of Nigeria, particularly rural areas, suffer from inadequate police presence, a situation that undermines efforts to protect lives and property. Given the current security challenges facing the nation, he emphasized his administration’s commitment to reinforcing law enforcement visibility and effectiveness across all communities.
To support this objective, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The Federal Government is also partnering with state governments to upgrade and modernize police training facilities nationwide, ensuring new recruits and existing officers receive improved training and operational support.

Sunday’s security meeting was attended by 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, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to decisive reforms aimed at strengthening national security and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies.