Tinubu Orders Five-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, stressing the need for a coherent framework to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

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, serving as coordinator and providing 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.

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 said the new framework would establish a common understanding of the threats confronting the country, the operational objectives required to address them and the capabilities needed to achieve those objectives.

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

“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,” the President said.

According to him, security requirements are often considered separately without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan, a situation that can hamper coordination and efficient deployment of resources.

The National Threat Assessment will identify the country’s principal security threats, assess their urgency and establish operational objectives for tackling them.

The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate the assessment into operational priorities, including the forces and capabilities required across various theatres, existing gaps, equipment and support requirements, as well as an implementation timetable.

The committee may also consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where necessary.

President Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit the completed assessment and defence 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 form the basis for a multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan aimed at directing resources towards agreed operational priorities and critical national security needs.

The President further directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser to take immediate steps to implement the directives.