President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has instructed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, to work with the inspector-general of police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to ensure protection for VIPs who may be at risk after the withdrawal of police escorts.
Gatekeepers News reports that the President had earlier ordered the removal of police officers attached to VIPs during a security meeting on November 23.
The presidency said the decision was taken to increase police presence in communities that lack enough officers and are prone to attacks.
Before the federal executive council meeting on Wednesday, Tinubu told cabinet members to contact the IGP if the nature of their job leaves them with any security concerns.
He directed the Interior Minister to replace withdrawn police escorts with civil defence operatives so that no VIP is left unprotected.
Tinubu said, “If you have any problem of security because of the nature of assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.”
“The minister for interior should liaise IGP and civil defence structure to replace those police officers, who are on special security duties. So that you don’t leave people exposed.”
The President also instructed the NSA and DSS to organise themselves into a committee to review the security structure. He noted that the country is dealing with kidnapping and terrorism and needs all available security resources.
Tinubu said, “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.”
