President Tinubu Takes Decisive Action on National Security: Orders Immediate Withdrawal of Police Officers from VIP Protection to Bolster Community Policing Amid Escalating Threats

 In a bold and far-reaching directive aimed at fortifying Nigeria's internal security architecture, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police officers currently assigned to provide protection for Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country. This sweeping reform, announced on the heels of a high-level security summit, mandates the redeployment of these personnel to frontline core policing duties, signaling a paradigm shift toward prioritizing community safety over elite security in the face of mounting national challenges.

The presidential order, issued during a closed-door security meeting on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, underscores President Tinubu's administration's zero-tolerance stance on the overstretched resources of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Attended by top brass including Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Tosin Adeola Ajayi, the session highlighted the urgent need to recalibrate security deployments amid a surge in banditry, kidnappings, and insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions in 2025 alone.

"Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote and underserved areas, have been left perilously under-policed, rendering the sacred duty of protecting ordinary citizens an uphill battle," stated Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in an official release. "In view of the current security challenges facing our beloved nation, President Tinubu is resolute in boosting police presence in all communities, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in our collective pursuit of peace and prosperity."

This move addresses a longstanding systemic bottleneck: estimates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) indicate that over 100,000 police officers—nearly a third of the NPF's total strength of approximately 400,000—are tied up in VIP protection details. This includes high-profile politicians, business magnates, religious leaders, and expatriates, leaving just over 200,000 officers to safeguard a population exceeding 250 million. The imbalance has exacerbated vulnerabilities in rural outposts, where police stations often operate with skeletal staff, contributing to a 45% rise in reported crimes in northern and central regions between January and October 2025, per data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Under the new framework, VIPs seeking personal security will be redirected to request well-armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a paramilitary agency equipped for such roles with over 80,000 personnel trained in close protection and rapid response. "This is not a diminishment of VIP safety but an elevation of public security," Onanuga emphasized. "The NSCDC's specialized units stand ready to fill this niche, allowing our police to reclaim their foundational mandate: crime prevention, investigation, and community engagement."

Complementing the withdrawal, President Tinubu has greenlit the recruitment of 30,000 additional police constables, a strategic infusion aimed at expanding the force by 7.5% within the next fiscal year. This follows a comprehensive audit of training infrastructure, with the federal government partnering with state administrations to modernize facilities at key academies in Lagos, Kaduna, and Enugu. Upgrades will incorporate advanced modules on intelligence-led policing, cybercrime detection, and counter-terrorism, drawing on international best practices from collaborations with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol.

The directive arrives at a critical juncture for Nigeria's security landscape. Recent months have witnessed a spike in high-impact incidents, including the abduction of over 300 schoolchildren in Niger State last week, coordinated bandit raids in Zamfara claiming 150 lives, and urban unrest in Lagos tied to economic hardships. According to a joint ONSA-DSS report released in October 2025, under-policing in non-urban areas accounts for 62% of successful terrorist operations, with response times averaging 48 hours in remote communities. By freeing up VIP-assigned officers—many of whom have been on extended details for years—President Tinubu's administration projects a 25% increase in patrol coverage nationwide within 90 days, potentially averting thousands of incidents.

Public reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with #TinubuSecurityReform trending across social media platforms since the announcement. Civil society leaders, including the Executive Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), hailed the move as "a game-changer for equitable justice." "For too long, the elite have monopolized our thin blue line, leaving the masses exposed," said CDD's Dr. Fatima Ahmad. "This is restorative policing at its finest—putting the people first." Prominent voices like Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka echoed the sentiment in a statement: "In reallocating guardians from palaces to streets, we reclaim the soul of service."

Industry stakeholders anticipate ripple effects beyond security. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) projects a 15% uptick in investor confidence, citing reduced risks to supply chains in previously vulnerable industrial hubs. "Secure communities mean thriving economies," noted MAN President Dr. Segun Ajayi Kadir. Meanwhile, the NSCDC has pledged seamless transitions, with Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi announcing the activation of 5,000 dedicated VIP response teams by December 15, 2025.

President Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritized security as a cornerstone since his May 2023 inauguration, reaffirmed his personal commitment during the meeting. "I will not rest until every Nigerian can walk their streets without fear," he declared, invoking his campaign pledge to overhaul the nation's defense posture. This order builds on prior reforms, including the 2024 Police Trust Fund Act and enhanced border surveillance under the ECOWAS framework, positioning Nigeria as a regional bulwark against transnational threats.

As implementation commences under the Inspector General's oversight—with a 30-day grace period for VIPs to secure NSCDC alternatives—this directive marks a pivotal step toward a more resilient republic. In an era where security is the bedrock of progress, President Tinubu's vision ensures that Nigeria's watchmen serve all, not the few.