Tinubu Restates Police Withdrawal From VIPs, Directs Shettima to Lead Ranch Initiative

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its directive for the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, insisting that the personnel must return to core policing duties as part of ongoing security reforms.

President Bola Tinubu restated the order on Wednesday before presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, expressing displeasure over the slow pace of compliance by relevant agencies.

He directed the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to immediately work with the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to deploy replacements to VIPs to ensure no individual is left exposed during the transition.

Tinubu further mandated the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services to provide additional guidance and ensure that the directive is fully implemented across all security formations.

Responding to rising cases of kidnapping, the President said all available police personnel must be redeployed to communities, highways and other critical areas requiring stronger security presence.

“We are facing challenges of kidnapping. We need all the forces we have on the ground, fully utilised,” Tinubu stated while emphasising the urgency of reinforcing frontline policing.

“I know some of our people are exposed… Civil Defence is equally armed, and I have directed the NSA to arm our forest guards too. Take it very seriously,” he added.

The President also tasked Vice-President Kashim Shettima with coordinating livestock reforms through the National Economic Council, urging states to identify grazing reserves that can be rehabilitated and converted into ranches to minimise herder-farmer conflicts.

He maintained that transforming the livestock sector into a viable economic venture is essential for long-term peace and development, stressing that states must take the lead since land administration is under their constitutional control.