President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reiterated his directive to withdraw police officers from providing personal protection for VIPs and redeploy them to core policing duties, citing rising security challenges across the country.
The President issued the directive minutes before presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, stressing the slow pace of compliance. “I honestly believe in what I said… It should be effected. If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu said.
He instructed the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to coordinate with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to replace withdrawn police escorts so that officials are not left exposed. The President also directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to issue guidance and oversee the implementation of the order.
Framing the move as a response to escalating kidnappings, Tinubu said, “We are facing challenges of kidnapping. We need all the forces we have on the ground, fully utilised.” He added that civil defence personnel could provide protection where necessary and announced plans to arm forest guards to strengthen security efforts.
In addition, the President tasked Vice President Kashim Shettima with using the National Economic Council to identify grazing reserves that could be rehabilitated into ranches, aiming to reduce farmer-herder conflicts and formalise the livestock economy. “We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the Livestock reform into economically viable development,” Tinubu said.
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The Wednesday directive follows an earlier order issued on November 23 to redeploy police officers from VIP protection to community policing, highway patrols, and school security, in response to the abduction of at least 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger States.
Hours before the FEC meeting, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka criticised the excessive security detail assigned to Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son, describing the entourage as “sufficient to take over a small country.” Soyinka recounted seeing the armed personnel and expressed astonishment at the level of protection provided to the President’s family member.
The President’s renewed directive is part of broader efforts to optimise security resources, strengthen law enforcement, and reduce vulnerabilities to kidnapping and violent crime across Nigeria.