Because of heightened security threats across the country, President Bola Tinubu said forest guards must be equipped to strengthen community protection. He said the directive must be enforced immediately because of heightened security threats across the country.
President Tinubu stated this at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday when he directed government officials to seek his approval before requesting police escorts for official assignments.
Accorsing to the President, some officials face high exposure risks, adding that 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 reiterated.
The President also ordered the Minister of Interior to work with the IGP and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to fill the gaps created by officers deployed on special 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 nation’s security structure and implement necessary adjustments. “The NSA and the DSS should provide further information,’’ he said.
“I know some of our people are exposed, and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them. “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,” he said.
President Tinubu stressed that security lapses often occur when officers are reassigned without adequate replacement planning, stressing the need for tighter coordination among agencies.
