President Bola Tinubu has ordered the redeployment of police officers away from VIP protection duties to strengthen law enforcement across the country.

The directive was issued during a security meeting with top service chiefs, including Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General 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 Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

The decision follows a rise in kidnappings and security threats nationwide. From now on, VIPs seeking protection will have to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, allowing the police to focus on their core duties.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that many communities, particularly in remote areas, have insufficient police presence, making it challenging to protect citizens.

“To address the current security challenges, President Tinubu is determined to boost police presence in all communities. He has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers and is collaborating with states to improve police training facilities nationwide,” the statement said.