President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate development of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to emerging security challenges.
The directive was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, following Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
According to the statement, the new framework is expected to provide a unified assessment of the country’s security threats while establishing clear operational priorities and identifying the capabilities required to address them.
Tinubu has constituted an 11-member committee to develop the strategic defence framework, with his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, appointed to coordinate the committee and provide secretariat support.
Members of the committee include the National Security Adviser, Mallam 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, 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 of the committee.
The President said recent security operations, particularly the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated action among defence, intelligence and security agencies.
He noted that such successes could be strengthened through a common strategic framework, saying security requirements had often been handled separately without adequate reference to a shared national threat assessment or medium-term operational plan.
Under the new arrangement, the National Threat Assessment will identify the country’s major security threats, determine their level of urgency and establish the objectives required to address them.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate those findings into specific operational priorities, including the deployment of forces and capabilities across various theatres, identification of gaps, equipment and logistical requirements, as well as timelines for implementation.
The committee is authorised to consult or co-opt representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies where necessary.
Tinubu ordered the committee to begin work immediately and submit both documents for his consideration and approval within 90 days.
Once approved, the strategic plan will serve as the central framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term, while also guiding a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement programme.
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 ensure immediate implementation of the directives.
