By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
PRESSURE ON Nigeria’s overstretched policing system prompted a decisive change on Sunday after Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers assigned to supposed Very Important Personalities (VIPs) escort and guard operations across the country.
The new directive issued following a security meeting convened by the President in Abuja, where he instructs the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to redeploy officers currently attached to individuals back to core community security duties nationwide.
The announcement followed a closed-door session involving 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.
According to the statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the directive takes immediate effect and is a central component of an ongoing reorganisation of national security deployments.
The Presidency stated that VIPs who require armed escorts or protective services would now seek personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (CDCs).
The statement also clarified that the redirection of police officers aims to strengthen frontline security, increase officer presence in underserved areas, and ensure that policing resources are focused on critical safety responsibilities across communities.
The directive is said to have emerged from a review of current security gaps across the country, particularly in remote communities where police stations operate with limited personnel.
The Presidency then noted that many divisions and outposts struggle to respond effectively due to inadequate staffing, a situation compounded by the high number of officers assigned to private individuals.
Officials stated that the adjustment is intended to correct the imbalance and reinforce public safety structures where they are most needed.
President Tinubu also highlighted previously approval for the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers as part of a strategy to expand operational capacity nationwide.
He noted that the FG is collaborating with state governments to upgrade police training facilities, a move designed to improve the quality of training for new recruits and enhance overall readiness for emerging threats.
During Sunday’s meeting, security chiefs provided updates on ongoing operations and assessed personnel deployment requirements across different regions.
Although the statement did not disclose the full details of the briefings, it confirmed that the decision to withdraw officers from VIP protection reflects a coordinated effort to address community vulnerabilities and reposition policing resources more strategically.
The Presidency pointed out that the evaluation formed part of a wider review of national security frameworks.
Officials emphasised that the restructuring of VIP security arrangements marks a significant policy shift affecting longstanding practices within the security services.
The Presidency indicated that the transition would be carried out in phases to ensure an orderly redeployment of officers, with operational commands expected to manage the changes while maintaining continuity of essential security functions as the statement added that the Nigeria Police Force would supervise the reassignment process in line with national priorities.
The directive assigns the Inspector General of Police a central role in coordinating with the heads of the army, air force and DSS to support the repositioning of officers.
According to the Presidency, the meeting offered the President an opportunity to review the preparedness of the various security agencies and to outline expectations for stronger inter-agency collaboration.
It was also noted that the heads of the services were tasked with aligning their operations, where appropriate, to complement the revised policing approach.
The Presidency reinforced that expanding police visibility remains critical to improving national security outcomes. The statement emphasised that restoring officers to frontline duties will help address the shortage of personnel in rural and semi-urban communities, which continue to face risks from criminal groups, banditry and other threats.
Officials explained that the current security challenges require a more efficient deployment of officers and a shift towards strengthening community-level protection.
The communiqué stressed that the policy change is rooted in the administration’s commitment to refocusing law enforcement agencies on their primary responsibilities, ensuring that police officers attend to community safety forms a core component of broader reforms aimed at improving surveillance, response times, and coordination of security operations.
The statement reaffirmed the government’s intention to rebuild public confidence by deploying officers where their presence has the greatest impact on overall security.
It added that the redirection of officers aligns with the government’s assessment of the evolving security landscape, describing the move as part of ongoing measures to ensure efficient utilisation of security personnel, especially given the scale of emerging challenges across states.
The communiqué explained that the new structure for VIP protection through the NSCDC provides an alternative for individuals requiring security services without drawing from police manpower designated for community-focused duties.
The FG said the decision forms part of a broader effort to strengthen national security institutions through personnel expansion, training improvements and reallocation of operational resources.
It also reaffirmed that the current restructuring seeks to optimise the country’s security architecture and establish systems that respond more effectively to the needs of Nigerians, prioritising frontline deployment is expected to support wider security initiatives already under implementation.
The Presidency concluded that the measures discussed at Sunday’s meeting reflect the administration’s commitment to reinforcing the capability of law enforcement agencies, stating that redirecting officers from VIP assignments to community security duties is intended to enhance the visibility and effectiveness of police operations.
President Tinubu noted that additional guidance on implementation will follow as the Nigeria Police Force rolls out its redeployment schedule in line with the directive.
