President Bola Tinubu has ordered for the withdrawal of all personnel of the police force that have been assigned to guard some of Nigeria's elite in an aim to strengthen community security nationwide.

This new directive was announced in a social media post by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

Onanuga indicated that the President wants police personnel to 'focus squarely on their core policing responsibilities', rather than VIP protection duties.

“Police authorities will now redeploy these officers to areas where they are genuinely needed,” Onanuga said in a statement on X.

He further noted that VIPs who still require escorts will no longer rely on the Nigeria Police Force but will instead request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Quoting the presidential directive, Onanuga stated: “VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”

The statement noted that many remote communities across Nigeria have too few police officers, leaving residents vulnerable. “This has made the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” it added.

President Tinubu, the statement said, is determined to increase the visibility and effectiveness of the police nationwide, especially given the widening security challenges.

“To address manpower shortages, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers,” Onanuga confirmed. He also stated that the federal government would be partnering with state governments to upgrade police training facilities across Nigeria.