President Bola Tinubu has directed that police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria be withdrawn and redeployed to core policing duties.
The order was issued during a security meeting on Sunday in Abuja with service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS). According to a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who need protection will now be guarded by armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.
“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 read.
Onanuga further revealed that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and that the Federal Government is collaborating with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
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The meeting was attended by top security officials including Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and DSS Director-General Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The move addresses long-standing concerns over the overstretching of Nigeria’s police force, as reports indicate that over 100,000 officers are currently assigned to politicians, businessmen, and other VIPs.