President Bola Tinubu has directed all ministers and senior government officials to obtain presidential approval before requesting police escorts for official duties. He gave the order on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tinubu said the move was necessary to prevent security lapses that often occur when police officers are reassigned without prompt replacement. He stressed that all security agencies must strengthen coordination to ensure essential posts are not left unmanned.
“I have told the Inspector-General of Police, and I hope the Minister of Police Affairs is here to implement the directive,” the President said. “If you have any problem with security because of the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.”
The President also instructed the Minister of Interior to work with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to immediately fill gaps created by officers deployed for special duties. “The Interior Minister should liaise with the IGP and Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties, so you don’t leave people exposed,” Tinubu said.
He further ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to carry out a security structure review and implement necessary adjustments nationwide.
Tinubu emphasized that the directive must take effect immediately, citing heightened security threats across the country. He noted that some officials face increased exposure risks and called for better equipping of forest guards as part of broader community-level protection efforts.
“I know some of our people are exposed, and we have to make exceptional provisions for them,” he said. “The Civil Defence is equally armed, and I want to know from the NSA if we are to arm our forest guards too. We should take it very seriously.”
The President also tasked Vice President Kashim Shettima with engaging the National Economic Council on reviving grazing reserves and developing ranches under the government’s livestock reform agenda. According to him, reducing herder–farmer clashes requires transforming available lands into productive livestock hubs.
“We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there — let’s utilise it,” Tinubu said, adding that states must drive the process in line with their constitutional control over land.
