Tinubu Pulls Police Off VIP Duty, Sends Officers Back To Streets — NSCDC Set For Escort Roles

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country as part of a wider effort to strengthen frontline policing and improve security in local communities.

The directive, issued during a security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, mandates that officers currently assigned to escort duties return to their core responsibilities, while VIPs who still require protection are to rely on personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

According to the statement, “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

The decision follows growing concerns over low police presence in remote and underserved locations, where limited manpower has made routine security and emergency response increasingly difficult.

The statement noted that “many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.”

Administration officials say the President is aiming to reverse this by redeploying officers into communities where they are most needed.

Tinubu had earlier approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police personnel and initiated collaboration with state governments to upgrade training facilities nationwide.

Those present at Sunday’s security meeting include Lt General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff; Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun; and Tosin Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services.

The move represents one of the most significant shifts in VIP security arrangements in recent years, with the administration framing it as a decisive step to “boost police presence in all communities” and improve public safety across the country.