President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons and redeploy them to regular policing duties across the country. The announcement was conveyed in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

The directive followed a security meeting the President held on Sunday with 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.

According to the Presidency, VIPs requiring protection will now obtain trained and armed security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The decision is aimed at strengthening police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where many police stations operate with limited manpower.

President Tinubu noted that the redeployment forms part of wider efforts to address the country’s security challenges and restore confidence in local policing. He added that the federal government is taking steps to reinforce the police system nationwide.

As part of these measures, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and has initiated collaboration with state governments to upgrade police training facilities across the federation.