President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all ministers and senior government officials to obtain his personal approval before requesting police escorts for official assignments. The directive was issued during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu noted that the move is part of the administration’s broader effort to withdraw police personnel from VIP protection duties and redeploy them to core policing roles across the country. He stressed that Nigeria is confronting heightened security challenges, making it essential for police officers to focus on crime prevention, community safety, and rapid response.

The president made it clear that the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs is final and non-negotiable, adding that any exceptions must be processed through the Inspector-General of Police and approved directly by the presidency.

To address legitimate security needs, Tinubu explained that officials requiring protection would receive support from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, working in coordination with the police.

Security agencies have begun enforcing the directive, establishing a special monitoring team to ensure compliance and redeploy police officers to frontline duties.

The directive reinforces an earlier order issued in November mandating a nationwide withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, a move aimed at boosting public safety by increasing police visibility and response capacity in communities. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.