The Nigeria Police Drive has begun a sweeping enforcement marketing campaign to arrest any officer discovered offering unauthorised escort providers to VIPs, following a brand new directive from the Presidency aimed toward tackling the misuse of police manpower.
A wi-fi sign circulated to all instructions and specialised items on November 30, 2025, and signed by the Inspector Common of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered quick compliance. The message, categorized as “crucial,” directed commissioners of police, zonal AIGs, Cellular Police items, the VIP Safety Unit, Counter-Terrorism squads, and federal operational items to apprehend any officer seen escorting people with out formal approval.
“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states [are] to arrest any police officer discovered escorting any VIP in AOR yours,” the communication learn, including that disciplinary motion would even be initiated in opposition to supervising officers who fail to implement the order.
Solely the Compol X-Squad and the Inspector-Common’s Monitoring Unit have been authorised to hold out enforcement, with the memo stressing that no additional reminders could be issued.
The clampdown follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on November 23, 2025, ordering the withdrawal of police personnel connected to VIPs throughout the nation. The choice was taken at a high-level safety assembly in Abuja attended by the Chief of Military Workers, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Workers, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the IGP; and DSS Director-Common, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Underneath the brand new safety framework, VIPs looking for escorts should now apply for armed safety from the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), slightly than the police.
Presidency officers say the measure is a part of a wider effort to deal with rising insecurity, significantly in rural and underserved communities the place police presence has thinned as officers take up personal safety duties.
