President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons nationwide, ordering their redeployment to core policing duties.
The directive followed a security meeting the President held on Sunday in Abuja with service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was disclosed that VIPs requiring protection will henceforth be assigned armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead of police personnel.
“Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement said.
Onanuga added that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, noting that the Federal Government is also collaborating with states to upgrade police training facilities across the country.
Those present at the meeting included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. 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 DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs follows long-standing concerns over the overstretching of the Nigeria Police Force, with reports indicating that more than 100,000 officers are assigned to politicians, businessmen, and other VIPs.
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