By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria, directing their redeployment to frontline policing in underserved communities.
According to a statement released by the presidency, the decision was made during a security meeting on Sunday at the State House in Abuja that brought together senior officials including the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector‑General of Police and the Director‑General of the Department of State Services.
The order stipulates that VIP protection will now be handled by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allowing the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to focus on core duties such as crime prevention and response in remote and neglected areas.
President Tinubu emphasised that the shift responds to long‑standing concerns over police manpower being tied up in personal protection duties, leaving many towns and villages without adequate security.
In the statement, he said “many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.”
The government also announced plans to recruit an additional 30,000 police officers and upgrade training infrastructure, a move that appears designed to reinforce the refocusing of the police on community safety.
For VIPs and high‑profile individuals who still require protection, the directive provides that such services will now be provided by NSCDC operatives.
