The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has formally requested presidential approval to recruit approximately 30,000 additional personnel, citing increased operational pressure from its expanded responsibilities, particularly in protecting Very Important Persons (VIPs).
Naijaonpoint reports that the appeal followed a meeting last month involving President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo, and the Commandant‑General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi.
The proposed recruitment is separate from the ongoing 30,000‑strong recruitment exercise underway across various paramilitary agencies.
Sources within the NSCDC told Punch that the rising demand for VIP escort services nationwide, triggered by the withdrawal of police officers from such duties, exposed significant manpower gaps in the corps.
A senior officer familiar with the development stated that the discussions with the President centred on closing that gap.
The officer said, “The CG and the minister have met with the President. They explained the need for more personnel, especially with the increasing demand for VIP protection.
“The President has given his word that justice will be done to the request, with possible recruitment of about 30,000 personnel.”
Another source reiterated that Mr Tinubu had assured the corps leadership that the proposal would be favourably considered.
A senior NSCDC security operative said the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP duties created a flood of applications across states, placing pressure on NSCDC’s limited manpower.
According to the source, commandants nationwide are “deploying available operatives while the corps intensified in‑house training, particularly in weapon handling, to meet operational demands.”
The manpower challenge followed President Tinubu’s approval for the recall of 11,566 police officers attached to VIPs across the country, a decision aimed at strengthening frontline policing in communities ravaged by kidnapping and violent crimes.
Inspector‑General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said the move was meant to refocus the police force on crime‑prone areas.
“Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties,” a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, read.
He added that “VIPs who want police protection will now request well‑armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
On November 9, 2025, a European Union report raised concerns that more than 100,000 police officers were assigned to VIP protection duties, a situation that weakened community policing across Nigeria.
The European Union Agency for Asylum’s report, which analysed police strength and deployment, noted that the Nigeria Police Force had an estimated 371,800 officers serving a population of about 236.7 million.
“More than 100,000 police officers were assigned to the protection of politicians and VIPs, rather than to tasks serving the general population,” the report stated, adding that this contributed to manpower shortages, corruption, and limited responses to emergencies.