Tinubu Orders Redeployment of VIP Police Escorts, Sanctions 30,000 New Recruits
In a sweeping security reform, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria. The order, issued following a high-level security meeting on Sunday, calls for these officers to be reassigned to core policing roles.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who still wish to have protection must now turn to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for “well-armed personnel.”
Tinubu’s decision comes amid growing concerns over inadequate police presence in many parts of the country, particularly in remote and underserved communities. According to the statement, some rural areas have too few officers at local stations, making it difficult to protect citizens and respond to crime.
As part of the security overhaul, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. In parallel, the federal government will work with state authorities to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
The security meeting, which produced these directives, was attended by top figures in Nigeria’s defense and intelligence community: 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.