The Federal Government has begun enforcing a nationwide overhaul of VIP security arrangements following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from prominent individuals.
The directive, issued during a high-level security briefing in Abuja on Sunday, led to immediate redeployments within the Nigeria Police Force. Present at the meeting were the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
In line with the President’s orders, the Police Mobile Force (PMF) has recalled officers attached to 20 high-profile personalities. The instruction came from the 50 PMF Squadron in Kubwa, Abuja, directing all affected officers to report back to base by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The internal memo, referenced AB: 4087/FCT/50PMF/VOL.10/ and signed by CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, listed several individuals whose police escorts are to be withdrawn. They include former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo; FCT Minister Nyesom Wike; former First Lady Aisha Buhari; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun; and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
Others named in the document include:
Chief Judge of Nigeria
Minister of State for Labour
Senator Tanko Al-Makura
APC Women Leader
Alhaji Kamba
Hon. Ngozi Iweala
Senator Ahmed Lawal
Hon. Khalifa Abdul
Hon. Yusuf Gagdi
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani
Hon. Vetra
Hon. Moses Ternege
Managing Director, Barelco
Engineer Okeke
Hon. Ibrahim Massari
The squadron instructed all officers to return immediately for redeployment and further briefing.
This is the second major enforcement step since President Tinubu ordered the dissolution of VIP police protection. Earlier, the SPU Base 16 in Lagos had also recalled its officers from VIP duties, directing them to report to headquarters “before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025,” as stated in a memo signed by Neji Veronica.
Under the new security structure, VIP protection will now be handled by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and individuals requiring such services must apply through the Corps.
