Tinubu Restates Withdrawal Order of Police Guards for VIPs, Seeks Conversion of Grazing Reserves to Ranches

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his directive withdrawing police personnel attached to VIPs, insisting that the officers must be redeployed to security-challenged areas across the country.

The President restated the order before the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, stressing that the nation cannot afford to keep essential manpower away from critical policing duties at a time of increased insecurity.

He instructed the Ministry of Interior to liaise with the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to replace police aides withdrawn from VIP protection, ensuring that no individuals are left exposed.

Tinubu also directed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to form a committee to review the current security structure and ensure full implementation of the redeployment policy.

Expressing concern over rising incidents of kidnapping and terrorism, the President said additional personnel must be channelled to priority security areas to strengthen national response efforts.

“I know some of our people are expose. The Civil Defence are equally armed and I want to know from the NSA to arm our forest guards too. We face challenges here and there, kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces that we can utilise,” he said.

“The Minister of Interior should liaise with the IGP and Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties, so that you don’t leave people exposed,” he added.

Tinubu tasked Vice President Kashim Shettima to begin identifying grazing reserves that can be converted into ranches, saying the reform will help end herder farmer conflicts and transform the livestock sector into an economically viable venture.