By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has recorded a “high and commendable level of compliance” with President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties nationwide.

The update was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, following a monitoring exercise conducted across major locations in Lagos State by a special enforcement team set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

According to the statement, the enforcement team began its operations around 10:00 a.m. on 6 December 2025, inspecting strategic areas including the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and other high-traffic points.

The team reported no sightings of unauthorised police escorts attached to VIPs, and no arrests were made.

Describing the outcome as proof of the Force’s readiness to fully implement the presidential directive, the IGP reaffirmed that all redeployed officers would be reassigned to core policing responsibilities such as crime prevention, intelligence gathering, community safety and general security operations.

Egbetokun stressed that the directive is part of broader reforms to strengthen policing capacity nationwide by ensuring manpower is utilised for public safety rather than private protection.

He assured Nigerians that enforcement would continue across all states “without fear or favour.”

The NPF also appealed for public cooperation as it pushes toward a more professional and citizen-focused policing model, promising transparency and strict adherence to the new policy.

The directive, first announced by President Tinubu, aims to address manpower shortages within the police force by eliminating the longstanding practice of attaching officers to individuals for escort and guard duties.