President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIP protection across the country, directing that security personnel be redeployed to frontline policing duties in communities facing rising threats.

The decision was taken during a high-level security briefing at the State House in Abuja attended by the service chiefs, 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 the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the directive, saying the President wants police manpower refocused on their core responsibilities, especially as many remote communities reportedly remain under-policed and vulnerable to attacks.

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Under the new directive, VIPs requiring armed escorts must now seek protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a move aimed at freeing thousands of police officers previously stationed on personal duty for political figures, businessmen and public officials.

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The order comes amid rising incidents of abductions and violent crimes across the country, prompting fresh criticism of Nigeria’s overstretched security agencies and calls for stronger policing presence at the grassroots.

Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and revealed that the Federal Government is working with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide. Officials say the initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen internal security and restore confidence in law enforcement operations.

The President’s directive marks one of the most significant restructuring steps in recent years, signalling a shift away from personalised police deployment and towards a community-focused security approach intended to stem the worsening wave of insecurity.

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