Tinubu Asks Ministers To Use NSCDC As   Escorts, Insists On Withdrawal Of Police

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday told members of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) and other Very Important Personnel (VIP) that were jolted by the withdrawal of Police escorts to make use of the personnel of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC).

The President  reaffirmed his order to pull police officers off VIPs and return them to core policing.

He stated this minutes before presiding over the Federal Executive Council at the State House, Abuja.

“I honestly believe in what I said. It should be effected. If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignment, contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu told Ministers at the Federal Executive Council meeting.

He directed the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to liaise with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps to immediately replace withdrawn escorts so “you don’t leave people exposed.”

“The Minister of Interior should liaise with the IG and the Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties. So that you don’t leave people exposed,” he insisted.

He asked the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services to issue further guidance and ensure the directive is effected.

Tinubu said: “NSA and DSS will provide further information and form the committee and review the structure.”

Framing the move as a response to a spike in abductions, the President said, “We are facing challenges of kidnapping. We need all the forces we have on the ground, fully utilised.”

He added that while some officials remain vulnerable, civil defence personnel should step in for VIP protection where necessary.

“I know some of our people are exposed and I understand that. We have to make exceptional provision for them. And Civil Defence is equally armed.

Tinubu also disclosed that forest guards will be armed. “I have directed the NSA to arm our forest guards, too. Take it seriously,” the President stated.

The President also tasked Vice-President Kashim Shettima to use the National Economic Council to identify and rehabilitate grazing reserves into ranches, aiming to defuse farmer-herder flashpoints and formalise the livestock economy.

He directed: “Again, 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 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.”

Wednesday’s charge came nearly three weeks after an earlier presidential directive to withdraw police details from VIPs and redeploy them to communities and highways, freeing manpower for investigations, patrols and school protection.

The November 23 directive was issued after a security meeting at the State House, Abuja. It followed a series of attacks that saw the kidnapping of 370 people, mostly schoolchildren, across Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States.