President Bola Tinubu has approved an urgent national threat assessment and a five-year strategic defence plan to unify Nigeria’s security agencies under a single operational framework.
In a sweeping directive aimed at ending disjointed security operations, President Tinubu has constituted a nine-member committee led by Homeland Security Adviser Adeyinka Famadewa to develop a comprehensive threat assessment and rolling defence strategy within 90 days.
The high-powered committee includes National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, and the heads of Army, Air Force, Navy, DSS, and NIA.
Key highlights of the directive:
· Unified threat assessment to establish a common understanding of national security challenges
· 5-year strategic defence plan with clear operational priorities and capability requirements
· Resource optimisation to address equipment gaps and deployment inefficiencies
· Implementation timetable aligned with a multi-year defence expenditure framework
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted that recent security successes—including the rescue of abducted Oyo State pupils—demonstrate the value of improved inter-agency coordination.
“The operational requirements are often considered individually without reference to an agreed national threat assessment,” Onanuga stated, noting this has limited efficient resource deployment.
The committee has 90 days to submit the completed assessment and defence plan for presidential approval. Once adopted, the framework will guide military and defence operations while forming the basis for procurement and budget planning.
President Tinubu directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Security Adviser to ensure immediate implementation of the directive.
