Nigeria: President Tinubu Trims Government Officials' Security Details

Tinubu Cuts Ministers' Convoys to 3 Vehicles, 5 Security Personnel

“No additional security personnel will be assigned.”

President Bola Tinubu reduces ministers' convoys to 3 vehicles, 5 security personnel to cut government expenses.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a bold move to reduce government spending by limiting ministers' convoys to just three vehicles and five security personnel. This cost-cutting measure is part of his broader strategy to streamline government operations and reduce excessive costs.

Highlights of the Directive:

Convoys Limited to 3 Vehicles: No additional vehicles will be assigned to ministers and heads of departments for movement.

Security Personnel Capped at 5: Four police officers and one officer from the Department of State Services (DSS) will make up the security detail.

Reduced Entourage for VP: No more than five officials permitted for foreign trips and 15 for local trips.

National Security Adviser's Role: Tasked with consulting military and paramilitary agencies to enforce similar reductions in their convoys.

President Bola Tinubu has taken a significant step towards reducing the cost of governance in Nigeria by limiting the number of vehicles in official convoys for ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies to just three. This directive, announced by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, aims to streamline government operations and reduce unnecessary expenses.

Components of the Directive:

Maximum of Three Vehicles: No additional vehicles will be assigned to ministers, ministers of state, and heads of agencies for movement.

Reduced Security Personnel: A maximum of five security personnel will be attached to each official, comprising four police officers and one Department of State Services (DSS) officer.

Previous Cost-Cutting Measures: In January, President Tinubu reduced his entourage on foreign trips from 50 to 20 officials and from 25 to 15 officials for local trips.

This move is part of the Federal Government's broader effort to reduce expenditure and promote fiscal responsibility. By implementing these measures, President Tinubu hopes to make a positive impact on Nigeria's economy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made significant cuts to the convoys and security details of government officials. In a directive issued on Thursday, he reduced the Vice President's entourage to five officials on foreign trips and 15 for local trips.

Key Directives:

Ministers' Convoys: Limited to a maximum of three vehicles

Security Personnel: Restricted to five personnel, comprising four police officers and one officer from the Department of State Services (DSS)

No Additional Vehicles: “No additional vehicles will be assigned to them for movement.”

As stated by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, “No additional security personnel will be assigned.” This move aims to reduce state expenses and manage Nigeria's public finances more efficiently. The President has also instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with military and paramilitary agencies to assess possible reductions in vehicle and personnel deployment.

“The security team will comprise four police officers and one Department of State Services (DSS) officer. No additional security personnel will be assigned,” he ordered.

“President Tinubu instructed the National Security Adviser to engage with the Military, Paramilitary and Security Agencies to determine a suitable reduction in their vehicle and security personnel deployment.

“All affected officials are expected to comply with these new measures immediately, underscoring the urgency and seriousness of these changes.“