More than 100,000 officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) are currently assigned to protect politicians and other very important persons (VIPs) rather than performing public security duties, according to a new report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
The November 2025 report estimates the NPF’s total strength at about 371,800 officers serving a population of 236.7 million people, far below the UN’s recommended police-to-citizen ratio. It noted that diverting such a large number of personnel to VIP protection has worsened Nigeria’s community policing and crime prevention capacity.
“The shortage in police manpower is compounded by the fact that over 100,000 officers are deployed for VIP protection rather than public safety,” the report stated.
The EU agency also highlighted corruption, inadequate resources, and poor accountability as major factors hindering effective policing. These challenges, it said, result in delayed emergency responses and leave many communities without sufficient security presence.
It further noted recurring cases of misconduct, extortion, and excessive force, citing the absence of robust internal accountability systems.
The issue of diverting police officers to private and political protection has persisted despite repeated government directives. In June 2023 and again in April 2025, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered the withdrawal of Mobile Police Force operatives from VIP duties, insisting the unit should focus on national security operations.
However, the EUAA report suggests that compliance remains weak, with a significant portion of police manpower still dedicated to elite protection rather than the safety of ordinary Nigerians.
