The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive ordering the immediate withdrawal of all police officers assigned as personal security details to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the nation. Information revealed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed the new development as a radical move to reorient Nigeria’s security architecture.
The presidential order aimed to return thousands of officers to core police duties, was delivered during a high-stakes security council meeting organized by the President at the State House on Sunday, 23 November. The meeting brought together the country’s top security officials, signaling President Tinubu’s administration’s firm commitment to addressing the pervasive insecurity plaguing many parts of the country.
The decision marked a significant shift in the deployment of the Nigeria Police Force, a body which has always been criticized for being disproportionately allocated to protecting the political and business elite, often at the expense of the general populace.
Under the new framework, these redeployed officers will be reassigned to bolster understaffed police formations, enhance patrols, and strengthen investigative units to tackle rampant crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.
A New Security Protocol for Elites
Meanwhile, the VIPs requesting for armed protection will be required to formally bid for trained, well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The new move was designed to properly regulate roles among the security officers, allowing the police to focus on its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order, while entrusting the NSCDC with a mandate of protecting critical infrastructure and complementing police efforts — taking a more defined protective role for private citizens.
“This is not about leaving anyone vulnerable. It is about efficiency and specialization. The police are trained for dynamic law enforcement; this directive simply returns them to their primary calling. The NSCDC is fully equipped to handle static and mobile protection duties,” said one of the senior presidential aides.
The President’s decision is a direct response to the ongoing deficiencies in Nigeria’s internal security, with the acute shortage of police personnel at the community level.
For years, remote area and even suburban police divisions have operated with a skeletal staff, severely hampering their ability to respond to distress calls, conduct investigations, or project a sense of safety. Criminals have often exploited this gap, operating with near impunity in areas with minimal police presence.
“The President is acutely aware of the security challenges and is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities, not just the corridors of power,” the presidential aide continued. “This redeployment will put more boots on the ground where they are needed most—among the people,” he added.
Sunday’s directive is not an isolated action but a key pillar of a broader, multi-faceted police reform and expansion agenda already set in motion by the current administration of President Tinubu.
Recall that the President has previously approved the massive recruitment of 30,000 new police officers into the force, a move aimed at permanently addressing the personnel deficit.
Furthermore, the Federal Government is now in active collaboration with state governments to undertake a comprehensive upgrade of police training facilities and academies nationwide. The objective is to ensure that both new recruits and redeployed officers receive modern training that equips them to handle contemporary security threats effectively and in accordance with human rights standards.
The high-level security meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Tosin Ajayi. Their collective presence underscores the inter-agency collaboration required to execute this significant policy shift.
If implemented resolutely, this move is expected to fundamentally alter the public’s interaction with the police force, promising a more visible, responsive, and community-focused service dedicated to the safety of every Nigerian, rather than a select few. The nation now watches as the police leadership begins the complex logistical process of executing this presidential order.