NIGERIA: Police Begin Immediate Withdrawal Of Officers From Vip Duties After Tinubu’s Order

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Nigeria Police Force has commenced the nationwide withdrawal of officers attached to Very Important Personalities following a directive issued by President Bola Tinubu on November 23.

In a memo dated November 24 and signed by the Commanding Officer of Special Protection Unit Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, all personnel attached to VIPs and beats were ordered to return to their bases before close of business on Monday, and report for lecture parade the following day.

The directive, shared by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Facebook, warned that attendance would be strictly monitored using the nominal roll.

President Tinubu’s order ends the long-standing practice of deploying regular police officers for private VIP protection, redirecting them to core policing duties in communities, especially in remote and under-policed areas where citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.

Under the new policy, individuals requiring armed protection will now apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.

The Presidency explained that many police stations, particularly in rural areas, are critically understaffed, making it difficult to protect citizens effectively.

To strengthen manpower, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers nationwide and directed the upgrade of training facilities in collaboration with st

ate governments.