President Bola Tinubu has asked Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, to liaise with the inspector-general of police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for security protection for very important persons (VIPs) who are currently “exposed”.
On November 23, Tinubu ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs across the country during a security meeting with the IGP, the chiefs of army and air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The presidency said the move is aimed at boosting police presence in communities, especially remote areas where stations are understaffed and citizens remain vulnerable to attacks.
Speaking before the commencement of the federal executive council (FEC) on Wednesday, the president told his cabinet members that if they have any security problem due to the nature of the assignment, they should contact the IGP to get his clearance.
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Tinubu asked Tunji-Ojo to liaise with the IGP and the NSCDC to replace the police officers withdrawn with civil defence operatives to ensure protection for the VIPs.
“If you have any problem of security because of the nature of assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” Tinubu said.
“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.
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“NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves the committee and review the structure.
“It should be effected. We face challenges of Kidnapping and terrorism, we need all the forces that we can utilise.
“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.”
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