President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered that police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) be withdrawn from such duties and redeployed to focus on their core policing responsibilities.

The directive was issued during a security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, attended by top officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and DSS Director-General Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

Under the new arrangement, VIPs requesting protection will now rely on personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The move aims to strengthen police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where limited manpower has hindered effective policing. To bolster security further, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is partnering with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.

“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” said Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

The directive underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring that police officers are fully engaged in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges rather than being diverted to VIP protection duties.