Police record full compliance as FG’s ban on VIP escorts takes effect

By Johnson Arua

The Nigeria Police Force says it has recorded full compliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive prohibiting the deployment of police personnel for VIP escort and guard duties.

According to a statement issued weekend by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Headquarters had set up a special enforcement team to monitor adherence to the presidential order across the country.

Hundeyin said the team, on December 6, 2025, began an extensive monitoring operation in Lagos State from about 10:00 a.m. The exercise covered strategic locations including the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and several other key points.

“The exercise revealed a satisfactory and commendable level of compliance by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement said. “No case of unauthorised deployment of police personnel for VIP escort duties was recorded during the monitoring, and consequently, no arrest was made.”

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reiterated the Force’s commitment to fully implementing the presidential directive, stressing that officers withdrawn from VIP duties would be redeployed to core policing functions to enhance security nationwide.

The statement assured Nigerians that the enforcement of the policy would continue “without fear or favour,” and urged the public to support ongoing efforts to build a more professional, efficient, and citizen-centered police system.

The directive, issued by President Tinubu, aims to strengthen manpower availability for critical security operations across the country.