Tinubu orders end to VIP Police escorts, orders recruitment of 30,000 police personnel

By Johnson Arua

In a move aimed at strengthening security across Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) nationwide.

The President directed that these officers be redeployed to focus on their primary law enforcement duties.

The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting held on Sunday in Abuja, which brought together the heads of the Nigerian Police Force, Army, Air Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Under the new arrangement, VIPs seeking personal protection will be required to request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), instead of relying on police guards.

President Tinubu highlighted the need to strengthen police presence, especially in remote areas where stations are often understaffed, making it challenging to safeguard communities effectively.

To this end, he has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is collaborating with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.

The Sunday meeting was attended by 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.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed the presidential directive in a statement.

This move is part of the administration’s broader strategy to reinforce national security and ensure that police personnel are more available to protect ordinary citizens rather than primarily guarding VIPs.