The Nigerian Police Force has officially intensified the enforcement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive mandating the nationwide withdrawal of police officers assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs), a move aimed at restructuring security deployment across the country.
This action gained widespread public attention after a circulating internal memo—shared by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga on X (formerly Twitter)—confirmed that the implementation process had already begun, prompting discussions about its immediate implications for both VIPs and national security operations.
Internal Memo Orders All Affected Officers to Report Back Immediately
The directive came through an official memo issued by ASP Neji Veronica, the Admin Officer, acting on behalf of the Commanding Officer of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 16 in Lagos. The communication instructed all officers currently deployed on VIP protection duties to return to their base without delay and comply fully with the new presidential order.
Part of the memo stated: “SUB NO. 1: ORDER AND DIRECTIVES: Sequel to the directive of Mr. President and C-in-C 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.”
It further warned: “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.”
Policy Expected to Extend to All SPU Units Nationwide
Although the document referenced officers under SPU Base 16, security analysts and police sources suggest that the directive is intended for nationwide application. The move is part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the presence of police officers in strategic public security roles rather than dedicating large numbers of personnel to VIP escorts and private protection duties.
This aligns with President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to restructure the nation’s security architecture and deploy police manpower more efficiently across communities where shortages have been widely reported.
However, questions remain about how VIPs accustomed to government-provided protection will adapt to this change, and whether new private security arrangements will be required to fill the gaps left by the withdrawal of police personnel.
The Nigerian Police Force is expected to issue additional clarifications in the coming days, including guidelines for officers affected by the redeployment and the operational framework for ensuring public safety during the transition period.
