By Adewole Kehinde
“The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.” – Richard Evans
For years, Nigerians have lamented the imbalance in police deployment across the country. While many remote communities struggle with little to no police presence, a significant number of officers have been tied down to VIP protection duties, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable.
So, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued a decisive directive on November 23 ordering the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, many analysts and critics dismissed it as another promise that would never see the light of day.
But today, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has demonstrated that leadership is not merely about issuing directives; it is about implementing them with clarity, courage, and urgency.
A memo signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica, and publicly shared on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on X, has finally put the matter to rest.
The directive is real, it is active, and it is already being executed. This memo is a strong signal that the IGP has moved decisively to operationalise the President’s order, clearing every lingering doubt and proving the critics wrong.
The truth is that many Nigerians, especially those living in remote areas, face security challenges exacerbated by the chronic shortage of police personnel. Some stations operate with just a handful of officers, making the constitutionally mandated task of protecting lives and property extremely difficult.
The withdrawal of police officers from VIP details is therefore not only timely but necessary. It redirects manpower to where it is genuinely needed: communities, highways, villages, and local stations, where insecurity often festers unchecked.
The presidency deserves commendation for this bold and strategic step. By freeing up officers for policing duties across the nation, the government has demonstrated clear intent to strengthen internal security architecture and restore public confidence in the ability of the Nigeria Police Force to respond swiftly to threats.
More importantly, President Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers nationwide further reinforces the administration’s commitment to comprehensive security reform.
Plans to upgrade police training facilities, in collaboration with state governments, will not only enhance professionalism but also ensure that newly recruited officers are well-prepared, well-equipped, and well-oriented for modern policing demands.
IGP Egbetokun’s prompt implementation of the presidential directive reflects a disciplined, responsive, and reform-minded leadership style.
It sends a strong message that the Nigeria Police Force is ready to evolve, adapt, and rise to the challenge of securing a nation as large and diverse as ours.
This is the type of action-driven leadership Nigerians have long yearned for, leadership that prioritises the safety of the people over the comfort of the privileged few.
With these steps, the Tinubu administration and the Nigeria Police Force have taken a significant stride toward rebuilding trust, strengthening community policing, and restoring security to the grassroots.
The path ahead may still be long, but this is the right direction, and the IGP has shown he is fully aligned with the mission.
Nigeria is safer today because action has replaced doubt.
Adewole Kehinde writes from Abuja. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com x: @kennyadewole
