President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday, December 10, reaffirmed his directive for the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), warning that henceforth no minister, head of agency, or senior government official will receive police protection without his direct approval.
Speaking moments after arriving at the Council Chambers for the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Tinubu emphasised that the decision is part of a broader national security strategy aimed at redeploying officers from personal guard duties to frontline operations against kidnapping, terrorism, and violent crime.
According to the President, Nigeria cannot continue to divert large numbers of trained police personnel to guard high-ranking individuals while citizens face worsening insecurity across the country.
“We must redirect our security resources to where the nation needs them most,” he said. “If you have any problem of security because of the nature of your assignment, please contact the Inspector-General of Police — and get my clearance.”
A New Security Protocol for Public Officials
The President noted that he had already communicated the new directive to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and warned ministries, departments, agencies, and private individuals that the era of automatic approval for police escorts is over.
Under the revised arrangement, the police hierarchy will process requests for VIP protection, but none will be approved without the President’s personal sign-off.
State House sources say the directive takes immediate effect, and all ministries and federal offices have been formally notified.
Civil Defence to Replace Withdrawn Police Escorts
To prevent gaps in legitimate security protection, particularly for ministers and officials who face genuine threats, President Tinubu instructed the Minister of Interior to collaborate with the police leadership and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrange alternative security cover.
“If police escorts are withdrawn due to this new directive, the Civil Defence Corps must immediately step in,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed that no official conducting sensitive national duties will be left unprotected, but security deployment must reflect Nigeria’s urgent priorities, especially as the government intensifies the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and urban crime.
High-Level Review of National Security Deployment
In addition to the escort withdrawal directive, President Tinubu ordered a full review of Nigeria’s security deployment structure.
He instructed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to set up a joint committee that will assess how security personnel are currently assigned across the country and recommend improvements.
“The NSA and the DSS must work together to strengthen intelligence, assess vulnerabilities, and propose a more efficient deployment model,” he said. “We must mobilise all the forces we can utilise.”
The President emphasised that the government must shift from a reactive security model to one rooted in intelligence gathering, prevention, and rapid response.
Background: Tinubu’s Ongoing Security Reforms
The directive comes amid rising concerns over violent crime, particularly kidnapping for ransom, attacks on rural communities, and growing urban insecurity. It also follows criticism from security experts who have long argued that Nigeria’s police force — with roughly 370,000 personnel — has too many officers assigned to VIPs instead of active policing duties.
Studies indicate that nearly 150,000 police officers may be deployed as personal escorts, drivers, protocol officers, or guards for politicians, businesspeople, and other influential individuals.
The Tinubu administration has pledged to reverse this trend as part of its broader reform agenda, which includes:
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Rebuilding police operational capacity
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Increasing manpower for counterterrorism operations
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Strengthening community policing
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Expanding intelligence and surveillance capabilities
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Enhancing interagency coordination
The latest directive signals a decisive push to implement these reforms more aggressively.
Mixed Reactions Expected
While many Nigerians have welcomed the decision as a bold step toward restoring public security, analysts predict resistance from some political elites accustomed to receiving unrestricted police protection.
However, presidential aides say the administration is determined to ensure fairness and accountability, insisting that no public official — regardless of status — is exempt from the new rules.
A Clear Signal of Prioritising National Security
By making the directive public and addressing ministers directly, President Tinubu reinforced his resolve to redirect the country’s security apparatus toward protecting ordinary Nigerians rather than serving political convenience.
Security experts say the move, if fully implemented, could significantly increase the number of officers available for patrol duties, rapid-response squads, anti-kidnapping units, and intelligence-led operations.
As insecurity remains one of the country’s most critical challenges, Wednesday’s announcement is being viewed as one of the administration’s strongest attempts to align security resources with national priorities.
With the President’s insistence that all exceptions must be personally approved by him, the new directive sets a high bar for VIP security requests — signalling a shift toward discipline, efficiency, and national interest.
