In a major shake-up of security deployment, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered all police officers assigned to VIP protection to withdraw immediately and return to frontline policing duties.
The announcement was made Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, after a security strategy meeting with top military and intelligence chiefs in Abuja.
Onanuga said the President made it clear that the current arrangement, which dedicates thousands of police officers to VIPs, is no longer sustainable in a country battling mounting security threats.
“The President has directed that police officers guarding VIPs be withdrawn and redeployed for essential policing responsibilities across the country,” Onanuga stated. “VIPs who still desire armed protection will now have to request well-armed operatives from the NSCDC.”
He added that President Tinubu is determined to reverse manpower shortages at police stations, especially in rural areas.
“Many parts of our country operate with only a handful of officers. This directive is part of President Tinubu’s effort to boost policing presence where Nigerians actually need protection, not just around privileged individuals,” Onanuga said.
The Presidency also confirmed the approval for the recruitment of 30,000 new officers and ongoing collaboration with state governments to modernise police training facilities.
Top security officials at the meeting included Army Chief Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Air Force Chief Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, and DSS DG Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Tinubu Finally Ends VIP Police Escorts, ‘Officers Belong to Nigerians, Not Individuals’ — Presidency
