The Federal Government has made a direct appeal to the Nigerian public, urging citizens to become active enforcers of President Bola Tinubu's recent order for the withdrawal of police escorts from Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the nation.
Citizens Called to Action for Compliance
This clarion call was issued by Daniel Bwala, the President's Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, during an interview on TVC on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Bwala explicitly asked Nigerians to document and report any individual still moving with police protection in defiance of the presidential directive.
"If you identify a celebrity, a private sector individual, or anyone who still has police escorts against the executive order of the president, as much as you can, capture evidence—whether a photograph or video," Bwala stated. He emphasized that public cooperation is essential to ensure full compliance with the policy, which aims to redeploy police officers to core security duties.
Clarifications and Exceptions to the Order
However, Bwala provided crucial clarification, noting that the withdrawal is not all-encompassing. He explained that certain government officials in sensitive positions would continue to receive security protection, but not necessarily from the police.
"The order of the president to withdraw police from VIPs is not all-encompassing. There are critical people in government who will still have one form of security or another," he said. For those still eligible, security coverage may now be provided by other agencies like the State Security Service (SSS) or the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
"It could be SSS or Civil Defence who will be there to help you. But police have no business being with you," Bwala added, drawing a clear line on the source of permitted security details.
Background and Broader Security Context
This move is a key part of the administration's strategy to free up police personnel for frontline duties amidst rising security challenges nationwide. The presidency had earlier confirmed that President Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers guarding VIPs to strengthen community policing.
In a related development, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, confirmed that 11,566 officers have been withdrawn from VIP protection duties. This significant redeployment coincides with the President's approval for the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers, following a high-level security meeting in Abuja.
The security overhaul aligns with President Tinubu's recent pledge to tackle banditry and terrorism decisively, particularly in northern Nigeria. He vowed that no region would be allowed to 'bleed while the federal government watches,' during the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum in Kaduna on November 22.
The Federal Government's appeal transforms the police escort withdrawal from a top-down directive into a collective national effort, relying on citizen vigilance to ensure its success and bolster overall security.
