The Nigeria Police Force has established a Special Enforcement Team to ensure strict compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s order banning the deployment of police officers for VIP escort and guard services.
In a statement shared on Facebook on Saturday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the enforcement team began its monitoring operations in Lagos on December 6, 2025, at about 10:00 a.m.
According to Hundeyin, the monitoring exercise covered major locations including the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the domestic terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and several other strategic points across the state.
He reported that the level of compliance observed during the operation was “commendable,” noting that no unauthorised use of police escorts was discovered and no arrests were necessary.
“The monitoring revealed no violations of the directive, confirming a successful operation in Lagos,” Hundeyin said.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s determination to fully enforce the presidential directive. He stressed that redeploying officers to core policing duties would strengthen national security by placing more personnel where they are truly needed — in crime prevention and community protection.
“We remain committed to ensuring our personnel are assigned to roles that enhance public safety and national security,” the IGP stated.
Hundeyin further assured Nigerians that the enforcement exercise would continue across the country and would be executed “without fear or favour.”
He also encouraged citizens to support the police as they work toward building a more professional, efficient, and people-focused policing system.
President Tinubu’s decision to recall police officers from VIP protection was announced after a security meeting held on November 23 in Abuja with service chiefs and the DSS Director-General. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs in need of security would henceforth receive protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.
