Tinubu Tasks Famadewa to Coordinate 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.
The President gave the directive on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, where he stressed the need for a unified framework to address the country’s evolving security threats.
Under the directive, an 11-member committee has been constituted to develop the strategic defence operations plan, with the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, designated to coordinate the committee and provide secretariat support.
Members of the committee include the National Security Adviser, Malam 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, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The committee also includes the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
According to the President, the National Threat Assessment will establish a common understanding of the principal security threats confronting the country, rank them according to urgency and define the operational objectives required to address them.
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The accompanying five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will translate the assessment into specific operational priorities, including the forces and capabilities required across different theatres, existing capability gaps, equipment and logistical requirements, and a clear implementation timetable.
Tinubu said the initiative was necessary because operational requirements were often considered separately, without sufficient reference to a common national threat assessment or unified medium-term strategy.
He said such an approach could make inter-agency coordination more difficult and limit the effective deployment of resources.
The President cited recent security operations, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as evidence of what could be achieved through effective coordination among defence, intelligence and security agencies.
“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,” Tinubu said.
The committee is authorised to consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where their expertise or participation is required.
Tinubu directed the committee to commence 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.
It will also provide the basis for developing a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with the aim of ensuring that government resources are aligned with agreed operational priorities and critical national security requirements.
The President further 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.
The development comes as Nigeria continues to strengthen coordination among its security agencies in response to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other emerging security threats across different parts of the country.
By PRNigeria
