The Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons across the country, directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties.
The directive was issued during a security meeting with the president, held with service chiefs, Inspector General of Police and the director-general of the Department of State Services on on Sunday in Abuja.
A statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the VIPs requiring protection will now be assigned armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead of the police.
“Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement read.
Onanuga also revealed that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, adding that the Federal Government is working with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Those in attendance at the meeting included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Police IG, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs comes amid long-standing concerns over the overstretching of Nigeria’s police force, as reports have highlighted that more over 100,000 police officers are assigned to politicians, businessmen, and other VIPs.
PUNCH