President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, December 10, reiterated his directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP security escorts, stating that any minister or senior government official who feels exposed must obtain his personal approval for special protection.
Tinubu issued the directive shortly after arriving at the Council Chambers for the Federal Executive Council meeting, noting that the goal is to redeploy security personnel to critical national security duties, including the fight against kidnapping and terrorism.
He disclosed that he had already notified the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and warned ministries, agencies, and individuals that all requests for security protection must be routed through the IGP and cleared by the presidency.
“If you have any problem of security because of the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” the President said.
To ensure no genuinely vulnerable official is left without protection, Tinubu instructed the Minister of Interior to collaborate with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to immediately deploy civil defence officers as replacements for withdrawn police escorts.
The President also mandated the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to establish a committee to review security deployment nationwide and enhance intelligence operations. He stressed that the country must mobilise “all the forces we can utilise.”
Tinubu further directed that forest guards be armed, urging the NSA to treat the matter with urgency.
On livestock reforms, the President handed a document to Vice President Kashim Shettima and issued a clear mandate:
“Get the NEC to first identify which villages or grazing reserves can be salvaged or rehabilitated into ranches and livestock settlements.”
He explained that the objective is to end recurring herder–farmer conflicts and transform the livestock sector into a viable economic driver. Since land is controlled by the states, he emphasized that the National Economic Council must work closely with governors to convert recoverable grazing areas into functional livestock villages.
