By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued an immediate order for the withdrawal of all police officers assigned as personal security guards to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country.
The directive, announced on Sunday, aims to redeploy these officers to their core duties of frontline policing and public security.
The order was issued following a security meeting in Abuja, which was attended by the heads of the nation’s security agencies, including the Army, Air Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police.
According to the new directive, any VIP requiring personal protection must now seek such services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which will be responsible for providing armed guards.
This move comes as many regions of the country, particularly rural and remote areas, suffer from a severe shortage of police personnel.
This deficit has hampered the force’s ability to effectively protect lives and property.
President Tinubu stated his administration’s commitment to increasing police presence nationwide to tackle the security challenges plaguing the nation.
This initiative aligns with the federal government’s earlier approval to recruit 30,000 new police officers, alongside a partnership with state governments to enhance police training facilities across Nigeria.