Owing to heightened security threats across the country, President Bola Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of police personnel currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The president has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers to strengthen security operations and ensure police presence across all communities.
“Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties,” the statement noted.
Onanuga explained that the president handed down the instruction during a security meeting held on Sunday with the heads of the police, air force, army, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services in Abuja.
According to the presidential directive, VIPs who require security protection will now have to request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The presidential spokesman noted that many parts of Nigeria, especially remote communities, have a limited number of police officers at their stations, making it difficult to effectively safeguard residents.
He stated that in light of the current security challenges, President Tinubu aims to enhance police visibility and capacity nationwide.
“Already, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The Federal Government is also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s meeting was attended by 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.
