President Bola Tinubu has ordered a restriction on police escorts assigned to ministers and other senior officials, insisting that approval be sought from him first.
Recall the President gave a directive for the IGP to recall all policemen attached to VIPs across the country.
The president has now stated that only essential security details will be allowed going forward, including his cabinet in the earlier directive.
He made this known on Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting.
Tinubu added that any official who still needs extra protection must now route the request through the Inspector-General of Police and obtain his personal approval.
“I have told the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), and I hope the Minister of Police Affairs is here to implement the directive. If you have any problem with security, because of the nature of your assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,’’ he said.
Tinubu also directed the Minister of Interior to work with the IGP and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to replace officers withdrawn from escort duties.
“The minister of interior should liaise with the I-GP and Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers, who are on special security duties, so that you don’t leave people exposed.”
He instructed the National Security Adviser and the DSS to review the country’s security structure and implement the necessary changes. “The NSA and the DSS should provide further information,’’ he said.
Tinubu said the directive must take effect immediately because of rising security threats nationwide, noting that some officials face higher exposure risks and that forest guards must also be strengthened to boost community safety.
