By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan aimed at strengthening 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 coordinated framework to respond effectively to evolving security threats across the country.
Under the directive, a nine-member committee has been constituted to prepare the strategic defence operations plan, with the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, appointed to coordinate the committee and provide secretariat support.
Members of the committee include 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, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, are also members.
Tinubu Seeks Unified Security Strategy
President Tinubu said the new framework would establish a common understanding of the threats confronting Nigeria, 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 could be achieved through stronger coordination among 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.
Tinubu observed that operational requirements were often considered individually without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term strategy.
According to him, the absence of such a framework could make coordination more difficult and limit the efficient deployment of scarce security resources.
The National Threat Assessment is expected to identify the principal security threats facing the country, rank them according to urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will subsequently translate the assessment into specific operational priorities.
It will identify the forces and capabilities required in different theatres, existing capability gaps, equipment and support requirements, as well as a timetable for implementation.
The committee may also consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where their expertise or participation is required.
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President Tinubu directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan for his consideration and approval within 90 days.
Once approved, the five-year 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, with the objective of directing resources 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 implement the directives immediately.
