President Tinubu orders withdrawal of police from VIP escort duties, redeploying officers to communities to boost security and improve nationwide police presence
President Tinubu Orders Withdrawal of Police from VIP Escort Duties …Deploys Officers to Strengthen Community Security
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide, in a major policy shift aimed at boosting frontline policing and improving security across local communities.
The directive, issued during a high-level security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, mandates that officers currently serving in VIP escort roles return to core policing duties. VIPs who still require protection will now rely on personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to the statement issued after the meeting, “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
The decision follows mounting concerns over limited police presence in remote and underserved areas, where insufficient manpower has hampered effective response to security threats and routine emergencies.
The statement further noted that “many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.”
Administration officials say the President wants to correct this imbalance by returning police officers to regular community policing roles, ensuring improved visibility, faster response times, and stronger public safety.
The move aligns with Tinubu’s earlier approval for the recruitment of 30,000 new police personnel and ongoing collaboration with state governments to upgrade law enforcement training facilities nationwide.
Security chiefs present at the meeting included Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff; Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; and Tosin Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services.
The withdrawal of police from VIP escort duty marks one of the most significant overhauls of security deployment in recent years. The administration describes it as a decisive step to “boost police presence in all communities” and fortify national security. Read More
