By Cross Udo and Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his directive for a comprehensive, nationwide withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Personalities (VIPs), insisting on complete and uncompromised enforcement across all categories of individuals.
He said the worsening security situation—involving kidnappings, terrorism and attacks on schools—requires the redeployment of all available police personnel to protect the general public rather than a privileged few.
Tinubu, speaking before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, ordered total compliance with his earlier directive recalling all police officers attached to VIPs.
He said the Minister of Interior, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) must immediately replace the withdrawn officers involved in special duties to avoid exposing citizens to risk.
The President recalled that, amid the worsening insecurity and recent kidnappings of students in Kebbi and Niger states, he had instructed the withdrawal of police officers serving VIPs and approved the recruitment of an additional 20,000 officers to strengthen the force.
Reiterating his seriousness on the matter, Tinubu said only those who obtain clearance from the IGP, who must in turn seek presidential approval, will be permitted to retain police escorts.
“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,” he said.
He further directed the Minister of Interior to work with the IGP and the NSCDC to ensure seamless replacement of withdrawn officers so that “you don’t leave people exposed.”
Tinubu also tasked the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to review the country’s security architecture and immediately provide updated frameworks to respond to evolving threats.
As part of the new measures, the President ordered the NSA to ensure forest guards are armed and adequately supported, stressing that all available security assets must be mobilised.
“It should be effected. We face challenges of kidnapping and terrorism. We need all the forces that we can utilise,” Tinubu said.
He added, “I know some of our people are exposed, and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them. And the civil defence is equally armed; I want to know from the NSA whether our forest guards are also armed. Take it very seriously.”
On livestock reform, Tinubu instructed Vice President Kashim Shettima to liaise with state governments through the National Economic Council (NEC) to identify grazing reserves that can be salvaged or rehabilitated into ranches and livestock settlements.
He said such reforms would help eliminate the drivers of conflict and convert them into economic opportunities.
“Especially 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 settlement. We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the livestock reform into economically viable development,” the President said.
He emphasised that because land belongs to the states, cooperation through NEC is essential to convert abandoned or underutilised grazing reserves into livestock villages, thereby reducing farmer–herder conflicts.
•Senate decries selective enforcement, faults protection for politicians’ children, others
Meanwhile, the enforcement of the VIP police recall triggered tension in the Senate after Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) accused the police of selectively implementing the President’s directive in a manner that unfairly targets members of the National Assembly.
Raising a point of order on the Senate floor, Ningi said his only police orderly was withdrawn without prior notice, a development he described as discriminatory, inconsistent with the President’s intention, and a violation of legislative privileges.
Ningi, a federal lawmaker since 1999, noted that while senators were stripped of their security aides overnight, ministers, business moguls, children of political elites and entertainers continued to move around Abuja with sizeable police escorts.
“I have never asked for more than one orderly. But today I was told my only police orderly has been withdrawn. I am not opposed to the withdrawal, but it must apply across the board,” he said.
He argued that the policy’s enforcement contradicted its stated purpose, as convoys of ministers and VIPs still criss-cross the Federal Capital Territory with complete police protection, while wealthy individuals and artists enjoy what he called “complimentary police protection.”
“You cannot withdraw security from senators, people elected by Nigerians, and leave businessmen, entertainers, or children of office holders with escorts. If the directive is genuine, let it cover everyone,” Ningi insisted.
Invoking the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act, he warned that the National Assembly must not be made the scapegoat of a policy that was never meant to single out elected officials.
Responding, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, confirmed that the leadership had deliberated on the matter at its Tuesday meeting.
He acknowledged that while Tinubu’s directive was issued in good faith to strengthen national security, Ningi’s concerns were legitimate and required urgent scrutiny.
Barau mandated the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to investigate allegations that “certain categories of individuals” were exempt from the withdrawal directive.
He expressed confidence that lawmakers would not ultimately fall under what he described as a “blanket withdrawal,” noting that global parliamentary norms guarantee a minimum level of security for elected representatives.
“We have a listening President. By God’s grace, he will exempt the National Assembly. The leadership is already taking steps to ensure your order is restored,” he told senators.
Barau reiterated the Senate’s support for the administration’s security reforms but emphasised that fairness must guide implementation.
“This issue is being taken seriously. We stand with the President, but no policy should subject lawmakers to unfair treatment,” he said.
