President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reinforced his November 23 directive withdrawing police escorts from Very Important Persons across the country and redeploying them to frontline operations, including patrols, investigations, and school protection.
Speaking before presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Tinubu expressed displeasure over the slow implementation of the order and described it as crucial to addressing the surge in violent kidnappings, including the abduction of more than 300 people in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger States.
Tinubu insisted on immediate compliance. He urged any affected official whose duties require police protection to seek clearance directly from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The President also directed the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure a swift replacement process so that no individual entitled to security is left without protection. VIPs will now be expected to apply for armed NSCDC personnel if they require escorts.
Tinubu further mandated the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services to issue additional guidelines and set up a review committee for the national security architecture.
The President announced new steps aimed at strengthening rural security and addressing long-standing conflicts linked to grazing routes. He ordered the arming of forest guards, stressing the seriousness of the directive as part of the nationwide response to kidnapping.
In addition, he instructed Vice President Kashim Shettima to work with the National Economic Council to identify existing grazing reserves and convert them into modern ranches. The President said the objective is both to eliminate farmer-herder conflicts and transform the livestock sector into a viable economic asset, noting that state governments retain constitutional authority over land.
Tinubu acknowledged that removing escorts may create temporary vulnerabilities for some public office holders. However, he insisted that the country requires all available security personnel on essential duties given the ongoing kidnapping crisis.
The President’s renewed directive came amid increasing criticism.
Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, speaking earlier at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, criticised what he described as the large security entourage accompanying Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son. In a video that has since gone viral, Soyinka said the security detail was large enough to “take over a small country” and disclosed that he had contacted the NSA out of concern.
In the Senate, anger over the uneven enforcement of the withdrawal order dominated Wednesday’s plenary. Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central described the removal of his only police orderly as unacceptable while some ministers, wealthy business people, politicians’ children, and musicians continue to move with large police escorts. He said the National Assembly was being singled out for harsh treatment and insisted that the policy should be applied uniformly. He called for an investigation by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau confirmed that the Senate leadership had met earlier and reached resolutions aimed at restoring police orderlies to senators in accordance with international practice. He directed the Police Affairs Committee to probe reported violations by non-legislators. Barau stated that the Senate supports the President’s broader security reforms and assured members that the matter is being addressed.
Leave a Comment