President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) in the country.
The police authorities will henceforth deploy these officers to concentrate on their core police duties.
The presidential directive was issued at the security meeting President Tinubu with the police, Air Force, army chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja, on Sunday.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said according to the Presidential directive, VIPs who want police protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
This directive to stop attaching police officers to VIPs has been a bone of contention for decades. Past IGPs had issued orders to stop the practice, but it was hard to enforce.
There aren’t enough boots on the ground with many parts of the country, especially remote areas, having few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult, the statement lamented.
“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.
“Already, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The federal government is also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.”
Sunday’s meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.