Insecurity: Tinubu Orders NSA, DSS To Act, Wants Forest Guards Armed

President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately review his earlier security instructions and take steps to ensure that no citizen is left exposed as the country confronts kidnapping and terrorism.

Speaking during an address to the federal executive council (FEC) on Wednesday, the President said the security agencies must “provide further information” and form themselves into a committee to review and implement the directive.

“So that you don’t leave people exposed, NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves the committee and review the instruction,” he said.

The President stressed that the directive must be carried out without delay, noting the seriousness of the current security threats.

“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,” he stated.

Tinubu added that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also has a role to play and asked the NSA to consider the arming of forest guards.

“And civil defence are equally apt and I want to know that from NSA to arm our forest guards too, take it very seriously,” he said.

The President also gave fresh directives on the livestock reform agenda, asking Vice President Kashim Shettima to convene the National Economic Council (NEC) to identify villages or grazing reserves that can be rehabilitated into ranches and livestock settlements.

“Again, specially livestock reform, the Vice President should get the NEC first of all to see which village or grazing reserves that can be salvaged or rehabilitated into ranches,” Tinubu said.

He insisted that the reforms must eliminate conflicts and turn livestock management into an economic opportunity.

“Livestock settlement, 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.

Tinubu also reiterated that land belongs to the states, adding that NEC should guide the process based on constitutional provisions.

“And it is in NEC we would emphasise the constitutional requirement which states that the land belongs to the states. Whichever one they can salvage, convert to livestock village. Let us stop this conflict area and turn it to economic opportunities and prosperities,” he added.