President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reorganisation of security deployment across Nigeria, including arming forest guards and reviving abandoned grazing reserves into functional ranches. The directive was issued on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as part of measures to tackle kidnapping, terrorism, and recurring clashes between farmers and herders.

The president acknowledged the vulnerability of many Nigerians, stressing the urgency of extraordinary measures to safeguard lives and property. “I know some of our people are exposed, and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them. Civil defence is equally armed, and I want the NSA to arm our forest guards too take it very seriously,” he said.

President Tinubu tasked Vice President Kashim Shettima to work with the National Economic Council (NEC) to identify grazing reserves and settlements suitable for redevelopment into modern livestock communities. “We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there let’s utilise it,” he said.

Officials involved in implementing the security measures were instructed to report any threats immediately to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). The president also directed the Minister of the Interior to collaborate with the Police and Civil Defence Corps to ensure community policing continues uninterrupted during special deployments.

President Tinubu reaffirmed that land ownership is constitutionally vested in state governments, urging governors to identify areas suitable for livestock villages. “Let us stop conflict zones and turn them into economic opportunities and prosperity,” he added.

The directive follows previous reforms, including the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP protection, which has already seen 11,566 officers recalled to regular policing duties, as confirmed by IGP Kayode Egbetokun. The Senate recently requested that lawmakers be excluded from this policy.

Through these measures, President Tinubu seeks to strengthen security, reduce violent conflicts, and transform livestock management into a profitable economic sector.