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 at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, stressing the need for a unified framework to respond effectively to the country’s evolving security threats.
Tinubu 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 preparing the strategic defence operations plan.
Other members of the committee are the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji 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 Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
The President said the new framework would provide a common understanding of the threats facing Nigeria, the operational objectives to be achieved and the capabilities required to tackle them.
Tinubu cited the recent rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the operation demonstrated the importance of improved coordination among defence, security and intelligence agencies.
He noted that security requirements were often considered individually without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan, making coordination more difficult and limiting the efficient deployment of resources.
The National Threat Assessment will identify the principal threats facing the country, determine their relative urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will translate the assessment into clear operational priorities, identifying the forces and capabilities required in each theatre, existing capability gaps, equipment and support needs, as well as an implementation timetable.
The committee may also consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where their 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 a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, ensuring that resources are directed towards 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 give immediate effect to the directives.
