The Nigeria Police Force has officially commenced the enforcement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's directive to withdraw police personnel from Very Important Persons across the country. This significant move aims to redirect security resources toward strengthening community protection nationwide.
Immediate Recall of Police Officers
In a decisive development, ASP Neji Veronica, the Admin Officer for Commanding Officer at SPU Base 16 in Lagos, issued a formal statement ordering all police officers attached to VIPs and beats across the federation to return to their base immediately. The directive came with a strict deadline of Monday, November 24, 2025, requiring all affected personnel to report back before the end of the day.
The statement explicitly referenced President Tinubu's order as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, emphasizing that the withdrawal applies to all personnel of SPU Base 16 currently assigned to VIP protection duties. This enforcement action represents a concrete step toward implementing the presidential directive that has been widely discussed in security circles.
Mandatory Lecture Parade and Attendance
Beyond the immediate recall, the police administration has scheduled a Lecture Parade for Tuesday, November 25, 2025, which all returning officers must attend. The directive clearly states that attendance will be meticulously recorded using the nominal roll, ensuring complete accountability and compliance with the presidential order.
The official communication from ASP Neji Veronica leaves no room for ambiguity: "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."
The statement concludes with a firm instruction for "strict compliance," underscoring the seriousness with which the police hierarchy is treating this reorganization of security resources.
Public Reaction and Historical Context
The announcement has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians across social media platforms. Some citizens expressed skepticism about the implementation, with user @the_olamarx commenting: "We all know that the VVIPs will be exempted, those willing to pay higher will even be given more security officers."
Another social media user, @Ifedayo_hq, supported the move, stating: "Yes... they should pay for private security. I don't think any elite can abuse America Police the way we do our police in Nigeria."
This security reorganization comes amid rising insecurity across Nigeria, particularly in northern states where Boko Haram attacks and bandit raids have intensified. The presidential directive aims to redeploy police officers from VIP protection duties to core security functions that benefit the broader community.
Former senator Shehu Sani has cautioned that this policy might face implementation challenges similar to previous security reforms. The success of this initiative will depend on consistent enforcement and the willingness of both police officials and political elites to comply with the new security arrangement.
