President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to improve coordination among Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security agencies.
The President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, will coordinate the 11-member committee responsible for preparing the plan.
The committee includes the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
Also on the committee are the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
President Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja. He said the new framework would provide a clear understanding of Nigeria’s security threats and guide the deployment of resources and capabilities.
The President cited the recent rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as an example of what effective cooperation among security agencies can achieve.
He explained that the National Threat Assessment would identify the country’s major security threats, determine their level of urgency and set operational objectives for addressing them.
The five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then set out the forces, equipment and other capabilities needed to tackle the identified threats. It will also identify gaps and provide a timetable for implementation.
The committee may consult other ministries, departments and agencies where necessary.
President Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit the completed documents within 90 days for his consideration and approval.
Once approved, the plan will serve as the main framework for coordinating Nigeria’s military and defence operations over the medium term. It will also guide future defence spending and procurement by ensuring that resources are focused on key national security priorities.
The President directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser to take all necessary steps to implement the directive immediately.
