ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to very important persons across the country, insisting that the policy must be implemented fully to address Nigeria’s widening security gaps.
Tinubu first issued the order on Sunday, November 23, 2025, during a high-level security meeting attended by the inspector-general of police, the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services.
The directive aims to redirect police manpower from private protection duties to frontline public security operations, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Speaking at the opening of the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Tinubu warned against selective enforcement and directed senior security officials to ensure compliance.
Those named include Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser; Ibrahim Gaidam, the minister of police affairs; and Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police.
The president said police officers were trained and equipped to protect citizens, especially the most vulnerable, rather than guard a privileged group of public figures.
“If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.
To fill any security gaps created by the withdrawal, Tinubu instructed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the minister of interior, to begin the process of replacing police escorts with personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“The National Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection, and they are armed too,” Tinubu said.
“We face challenges here and there of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The civil defence is very much around.”
The president emphasised the urgent need to “mobilise the police appropriately” in light of persistent threats across the country.
Rising cases of kidnapping, rural banditry, attacks on commuters, and insecurity in border communities have heightened calls for a stronger police presence in areas long neglected due to personnel shortages.
Tinubu has repeatedly argued that redeploying officers away from VIP assignments is essential to improving public safety.
Senior police officials estimate that thousands of officers are currently assigned to protect political office holders, business executives, entertainers and private individuals, reducing the force available for core policing duties.
The directive has sparked mixed reactions, particularly among legislators and public figures who have reported the withdrawal of their own police orderlies in recent days.
Some lawmakers have raised concerns about what they describe as uneven enforcement of the president’s order, noting that ministers, private businessmen and politically connected individuals continue to move with large security details.
