Nigeria’s Special Protection Unit (SPU) has directed all officers attached to VIPs across the country to return “back to base,” following a presidential order that marks a sweeping change in the nation’s security arrangements.

On November 23, President Bola Tinubu instructed the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to prominent individuals, saying the force must be refocused on public safety.

The directive was confirmed in a memo signed by Neji Veronica, commanding officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, and shared by the presidency on X.

The memo instructed all affected officers to report back before the close of business on November 24. “The order is effective immediately and must be strictly complied with,” Veronica wrote.

The unprecendented decision is expected to affect politicians, business leaders, and other high‑profile persons who have long relied on police escorts.

However, the decision could free up thousands of officers for community policing while under the new arrangement, men of the National Security and Defense Corp, will take over the role of VIP protection.

Tinubu’s directive comes amid growing debate over the allocation of Nigeria’s limited police resources in the light of exposure of citizens to relentless attacks and abduction by Jihadists.

Critics had long argued that too many officers are tied down guarding individuals rather than protecting the public. Supporters of the withdrawal say it could help restore confidence in policing by redirecting manpower to protecting everyone – a constitutional duty of government.