President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), directing that they be reassigned to frontline policing roles across the country.
The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting held at the State House in Abuja, where the President met with service chiefs and heads of key security agencies to review the nation’s security situation.
In attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The President emphasised the need to strengthen the country’s internal security architecture by boosting police presence in communities and restoring the Nigeria Police Force to its core constitutional responsibilities.
Under the new arrangement, VIP protection will no longer be handled by the police. Instead, individuals who require such services will rely on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which is now mandated to take over that function.
President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel to enhance national security, support community policing efforts, and ensure better coverage across underserved and rural areas.
The move is part of a broader strategy to improve response capabilities, reinforce security nationwide, and reduce the misuse of police manpower in roles considered non-essential.
The President, in a statement shared via his official channels, restated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the country, adding that anyone undermining national peace will face decisive action.
The directive is expected to reshape Nigeria’s security deployment framework, increasing the number of police officers available for crime prevention, intelligence gathering, and community engagement.