The Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the Nigeria Police Force has directed all personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and special beats nationwide to return to their respective bases, following a presidential order mandating their immediate withdrawal.
President Bola Tinubu had, on November 23, instructed that police officers assigned to VIP security across the country be withdrawn without delay. In compliance, the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, issued an internal memo directing all affected officers to report back before the close of business on November 24.
The memo, which was circulated on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on X, read in part: “Sequel to the directive of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs, with immediate effect, the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to base.
“You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025, and all to attend the lecture parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll. This is for your information and strict compliance.”
Under the new security arrangement, VIPs requiring armed protection will now have to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rather than the police.
According to the Presidency, the initiative aims to strengthen police presence across communities, particularly in remote and underserved areas where stations are understaffed and residents are frequently exposed to attacks. “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” the statement noted, adding that President Tinubu wants officers “to concentrate on their core police duties.”
To support the shift, the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers nationwide, with plans to upgrade training facilities in partnership with state governments.
The directive comes on the heels of renewed attacks in parts of Northern Nigeria, including Kebbi and Kwara states, underscoring what officials describe as the urgency of reinforcing national security and restoring public confidence in policing.
