President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his directive for the withdrawal and redeployment of police personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), insisting that the policy must be implemented without exception.
The President issued the directive moments before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he also mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to urgently convene a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) to propel the administration’s ranching initiative and address persistent conflicts linked to open grazing.
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 (IGP).
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to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure that withdrawn officers are suitably replaced where necessary, without compromising anyone’s safety.
The President stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges particularly kidnapping require the optimal deployment of available manpower rather than the assignment of officers to VIP duties.
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.