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NSCDC Moves To Recruit 30,000 Personnel For VIP Protection, Seeks Federal Approval
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has sought presidential approval to recruit about 30,000 new officers, pointing to mounting operational strain caused by its expanding mandate, especially in the area of VIP protection.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The request followed a meeting last month involving President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi.
Officials say the proposed intake is separate from the ongoing recruitment of 30,000 personnel across various paramilitary agencies.
Sources within the corps told Punch that the growing nationwide demand for VIP escort services—arising from the withdrawal of police officers from such assignments—has exposed serious manpower shortages within the NSCDC.
A senior officer familiar with the discussions said the meeting with the President focused on addressing this gap.
“The Commandant-General and the minister explained the urgent need for additional personnel, particularly due to the rising demand for VIP protection,” the source said. “The President assured them that the request would receive fair consideration, including the possible recruitment of about 30,000 officers.”
Another source confirmed that President Tinubu had given assurances that the proposal would be favourably reviewed.
According to a senior NSCDC operative, the recall of police officers from VIP duties triggered a surge in requests across states, stretching the corps’ limited manpower.
He noted that commandants nationwide are redeploying available officers while intensifying in-house training, especially in weapons handling, to cope with operational demands.
The manpower challenge stems from President Tinubu’s approval for the withdrawal of 11,566 police officers previously assigned to VIP protection, a move aimed at strengthening frontline policing in communities affected by kidnapping and violent crime.
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, explained that the decision was intended to refocus the police on core security responsibilities.
“Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their primary duties,” President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement.
He added that VIPs requiring security coverage would now request armed personnel from the NSCDC.
Meanwhile, a European Union report released on November 9, 2025, warned that the deployment of over 100,000 police officers to VIP protection had weakened community policing in Nigeria.
The report by the European Union Agency for Asylum noted that the Nigeria Police Force, with an estimated strength of 371,800 officers serving a population of about 236.7 million, faced significant strain.
“More than 100,000 police officers were assigned to the protection of politicians and VIPs instead of serving the general population,” the report stated, adding that the practice contributed to manpower shortages, corruption risks, and delayed emergency responses.
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