Tinubu orders five-year national security threat assessment, defence plan

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to improve 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, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu also constituted a nine-man committee to prepare the strategic defence operations plan, with his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), assigned 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 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 committee also includes the 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 initiative was necessary to establish a unified framework for responding to evolving security threats across the country.

According to him, the National Threat Assessment will provide a common understanding of the threats confronting Nigeria, their relative urgency and the operational objectives required to address them.

Tinubu 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, defence 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.

He noted that operational requirements were often considered separately without adequate reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan.

According to him, this approach makes coordination more difficult and can limit the efficient deployment of security resources.

The Strategic Defence Operations Plan is expected to translate the threat assessment into operational priorities, identify the forces and capabilities required across different theatres, highlight capability gaps and outline equipment, support requirements and implementation timelines.

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

Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan for his consideration within 90 days.

Once approved, the plan will become the principal framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term.

It will also provide the basis for a multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with resources expected to be aligned with identified 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 directive.