President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to ministers and other senior government officials, directing that the personnel be redeployed to core policing duties across the country.
The directive was issued on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the President emphasized the urgent need to strengthen national security by optimizing the deployment of law enforcement officers.
Tinubu said he would rather see police officers performing essential security responsibilities than serving as personal escorts to VIPs.
“I would rather offer police officers from the VIP Protection or Very Very Important Persons Unit to perform real policing duties,” he stated. “I honestly believe in what I have said, and I call on the Inspector-General of Police—and I hope the Minister for Police Affairs is here—to take note.”
The President explained that the decision was aimed at ensuring that the nation’s security resources were used more efficiently and that policing efforts remained focused on emerging threats.
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“If you have any problem related to the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu added. “The Minister for Interior, along with the IGP and the Civil Defence structure, should replace those police officers who are on special security duties so that we don’t leave people exposed.”
Tinubu also directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to provide additional intelligence and set up a committee to review the existing security structure.
“The first challenge is kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces that we can deploy,” he said. “I know some of our people are exposed, and we must make exceptional provisions for them. The Civil Defence officers are equally armed, and I want the NSA to take it very seriously, even to the point of arming our forest guards.”
The President further tasked the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, to fast-track the livestock reform initiative as part of efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts between farmers and herders.
“Especially on livestock reform, I think the Vice President should get NEC to identify which villages or grazing reserves can be salvaged or rehabilitated into ranches,” he said. “We must eliminate the possibility of conflict and turn livestock reform into an economically viable development.”
Tinubu emphasised that the reform must operate within the constitutional boundaries of state-controlled land.
“Whichever land they can salvage, convert it to livestock villages or other viable ventures,” he said. “Let us stop these conflict areas and turn them into economic opportunities and prosperity.”