President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his directive ordering the withdrawal and redeployment of police officers attached to Very Important Persons, insisting the instruction must be carried out without exception.
He also mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to urgently convene a meeting of the National Economic Council to accelerate work on the administration’s ranching blueprint and curb persistent clashes linked to open grazing.
Tinubu issued the directive on Wednesday shortly before the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, warning that the country’s security architecture must be refocused toward combating rising threats.
Tinubu stated that any public official requiring police protection due to the nature of their duties must obtain clearance directly from the Inspector General of Police.
He further instructed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure that withdrawn officers are suitably replaced where necessary, without compromising anyone’s safety.
The President emphasised that worsening insecurity, particularly kidnapping, demands a more efficient deployment of available personnel rather than concentrating officers around individuals.
He added that the NSCDC would assume greater responsibility in filling security gaps and disclosed that he had authorised the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to fast track the arming of forest guards to enhance security in rural and forested areas.
On livestock reforms, Tinubu directed Vice President Shettima to convene the NEC to identify villages, grazing reserves or other suitable locations that could be rehabilitated and developed into modern ranches.
The renewed directive comes amid ongoing public scrutiny over the number of security personnel assigned to political office holders and prominent individuals.