Tinubu Reassigns Police VIP Guards to Streets, Approves 30,000 New Officers to Boost Community Security
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to provide security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, redirecting them to focus on core police duties.
The directive, announced in a Statehouse Press Release by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), follows a high-level security meeting held in Abuja on Sunday with the nation’s service chiefs.
Under the new order, police authorities will re-deploy the officers to increase police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where stations are often understaffed. The move is aimed at enhancing the protection and defense of citizens amid ongoing security challenges.
Going forward, VIPs requiring armed protection must now request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), effectively shifting the responsibility of protecting private individuals away from the national police force.
The President’s commitment to boosting police numbers and capability was further underscored by two related approvals:
* Recruitment of 30,000 Additional Officers: President Tinubu has approved the immediate recruitment of 30,000 new police officers to further strengthen the force’s presence nationwide.
* Training Facility Upgrades: The federal government will collaborate with state governments to upgrade police training facilities across the country.
Sunday’s pivotal security meeting was attended by top security brass, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General 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 Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The Presidency believes this strategic redeployment will significantly contribute to boosting police visibility and improving the overall security architecture in communities across Nigeria.
