President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to provide security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria, emphasizing the need to strengthen law enforcement presence in communities nationwide.
A statement signed by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, explained that police officers will now focus on their core policing duties, while VIPs requiring protection will seek well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The directive followed a security meeting on Sunday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The statement highlighted that many areas, particularly in remote regions, suffer from inadequate police presence, making community protection and law enforcement challenging. President Tinubu, in response, approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and announced collaboration with states to upgrade police training facilities across the country.
The move underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing Nigeria’s current security challenges and ensuring that police resources are concentrated on safeguarding citizens.