President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered full compliance with his previous directive to withdraw all policemen attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country.
He also instructed the Minister of Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to immediately replace police officers on special security duties to ensure that citizens are not left vulnerable.
The President issued the directives during his remarks ahead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasizing that in light of rising kidnappings and terrorism, all security forces must be fully utilised to protect the public.
Earlier, amid escalating security challenges, including the recent kidnappings of students in Kebbi and Niger States, President Tinubu had ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP duties and approved the recruitment of 20,000 additional officers.
Speaking at the Council Chambers, the President directed Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima to work with state governments through the National Economic Council (NEC) to identify grazing reserves that can be rehabilitated into ranches or livestock settlements.
He stressed that his orders on the withdrawal of police from VIPs are serious and must be implemented effectively, adding that anyone requiring police services must first obtain approval from the IGP, who in turn must seek clearance from him.
He said: “And I told the IGP, and I hope the minister of police affairs is here, if you have any problem of security because of the nature of the assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.
“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.
“NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves into the committee and review the structure.
“It should be effective. We face challenges of kidnapping and terrorism; we need all the forces that we can utilise.”
He further added: “I know some of our people are exposed and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them, and civil defence are equally armed, and I want to know that from NSA to arm our forest guards too, take it very seriously.
“Again, specifically livestock reform, I think the Vice President should get the NEC first of all to see which villages or grazing reserves can be salvaged or rehabilitated into Ranches, Livestock settlements.
“We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the Livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there, let’s utilise it.
“And it is in NEC, if we exercise the constitutional requirement which states that the land belongs to the states, whichever one they can salvage, convert to a livestock village, let us stop this conflict area and turn it into economic opportunities and prosperity.”
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