Tinubu Orders 5-Year National Security Threat Assessment, Defence Plan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to strengthen coordination among Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security agencies.

Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, stressing the need for a unified framework to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

The President appointed his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, to coordinate and provide secretariat support for the 11-member committee responsible for developing the strategic defence operations plan.

The committee includes the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. 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.

Tinubu said the National Threat Assessment would establish a common understanding of the major threats facing Nigeria, their urgency and the operational objectives required to address them.

He explained that the Strategic Defence Operations Plan would translate the assessment into clear operational priorities, identifying required forces and capabilities, capability gaps, equipment and support needs, as well as an implementation timetable.

The President cited recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as evidence of what could be achieved through stronger coordination among defence, security and intelligence agencies.

According to him, security requirements are often considered individually without adequate reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term strategy, making coordination more difficult and limiting the effective deployment of resources.

Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan within 90 days for his consideration and approval.

Once approved, the plan will serve as the principal framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term and will provide the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan.

The President also 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 directives immediately.