Demand for private security firms and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel has surged following President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police escorts from Very Important Personalities across the country.
President Tinubu issued the order on Sunday, explaining that the measure would enable the redeployment of police officers to underserved communities that have been deprived of adequate protection.
On Thursday, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun confirmed that 11,566 officers previously assigned to VIP protection had been recalled, marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s personal security arrangements.
Investigations by The Nation reveal that affected VIPs have begun seeking alternative security arrangements through private contractors and NSCDC officers for personal and family protection.
Sources at NSCDC Headquarters in Abuja disclosed that senior officers have received numerous discreet inquiries from prominent political figures, business leaders, and their representatives requesting deployment of armed personnel.
However, the organization faces significant capacity constraints in meeting the growing demand.
A source at the headquarters explained: “As we speak today, they have started making moves to request NSCDC personnel, but we lack the manpower to serve these elites. Our last recruitment was 5,000, and the one we are about to do now is 10,000, but note that the less than 100,000 that we have are spread all over the country because of challenges around mining activities, pipeline safety and so on.”
The source highlighted existing operational commitments that stretch the corps’ limited personnel, stating: “And for special duties like the 2025 Abuja Independence Day celebration, about 4,500 were deployed, while events like the 2025 Anambra governorship election alone require 10,000 personnel.”
An NSCDC source in Enugu confirmed yesterday that applications for their personnel have increased dramatically in recent days.
The development indicates that while the police withdrawal aims to improve security coverage for ordinary Nigerians, it has created a parallel market for alternative protection services among the country’s elite.
Private security companies are also reportedly experiencing heightened interest from former beneficiaries of police protection seeking to maintain their security arrangements through commercial alternatives.
The situation raises questions about whether NSCDC, already stretched thin across various national security responsibilities including pipeline protection and mining site security, can absorb the additional demand without compromising its primary mandate.
Industry observers suggest the trend may accelerate growth in Nigeria’s private security sector, which has historically operated alongside state security agencies in providing protection services to individuals and corporate entities.
