A memo from Neji Veronica, Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, instructed officers to report back to base before the close of business on November 24 and to attend a lecture parade scheduled for the following day. The memo emphasized strict compliance, warning that attendance would be taken from the nominal roll. The directive was publicly shared by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring security protection will now request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of relying on police officers. The move is intended to bolster police presence in communities, particularly in remote areas where stations are often understaffed and residents remain vulnerable to attacks.
“Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” the Presidency stated, adding that Tinubu wants officers to focus on their core policing duties.
In line with the initiative, the government has approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers nationwide and plans to upgrade training facilities in collaboration with state governments. The redeployment comes amid a recent rise in attacks in parts of Northern Nigeria, including Kebbi and Kwara states.