President Tinubu Orders Police Withdrawal from VIP Duties, Approves Mass Recruitment
ABUJA, Nigeria – In a sweeping reform of the nation’s security architecture, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate withdrawal of all police officers assigned as personal guards to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria.
According to a presidential directive issued today, the move is aimed at returning the police force to its core constitutional duties: the protection of communities and the maintenance of law and order. The decision addresses longstanding public complaints about the disproportionate deployment of limited police personnel to elite individuals, leaving regular citizens and rural areas under-protected.
The directive stipulates that VIPs who still require armed security details will now be serviced by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The NSCDC, a paramilitary agency, has its primary mandate in protecting critical national infrastructure and will now take on this expanded role for private protection.
This major policy shift comes amid growing national concern over inadequate police presence in many parts of the country, particularly in rural communities grappling with banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
To further strengthen the security framework, President Tinubu has also given approval for the immediate recruitment of 30,000 new police officers. This significant influx of personnel is intended to bolster the ranks of the force, making the redeployment from VIP duties viable and enhancing security coverage nationwide.
In addition to the recruitment drive, the directive includes plans for a comprehensive upgrade of police training facilities across the country. This initiative is designed to ensure that new and serving officers receive modern, fit-for-purpose training to effectively tackle contemporary security challenges.
The decision has been met with early approval from security analysts and civil society groups, who have long advocated for such a reallocation of Nigeria’s security resources to better serve the general public. The move signals the Tinubu administration’s intent to prioritize widespread public safety over elite security interests.
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