President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered police officers withdrawn from VIP escorts so they can return to core policing duties, directing VIPs to use NSCDC personnel instead while the government boosts police recruitment and training.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide, instructing that these officers be redeployed to strengthen core policing duties across communities.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who require protection will now request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Tinubu issued the directive during a security meeting with service chiefs and the DSS Director-General in Abuja, citing the shortage of police presence in many parts of the country.
To address this, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is working with states to upgrade police training facilities. The meeting was attended by top security chiefs including the Army, Air Force, Police, and DSS leadership.