Tinubu orders 5-year national security threat assessment, defence plan

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate development of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to strengthen Nigeria’s response to emerging security challenges.

The directive, according to a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at improving coordination among the country’s defence, intelligence and security agencies and ensuring that national security operations are guided by clear, unified priorities.

Tinubu gave the order during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, where he stressed the need for a coherent national framework to identify security threats, set operational objectives and determine the capabilities required to tackle them.

An 11-member committee has been constituted to prepare the strategic plan, with the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa, serving as coordinator and providing secretariat support.

Other members of the committee include the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; and Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.

Also on the committee are the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Muhammed Muhammed.

The President said recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, demonstrated the importance of intelligence sharing and effective inter-agency collaboration.

“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence. We must build on such successes by strengthening coordination and ensuring that all our security capabilities are directed towards clearly defined national objectives,” Tinubu said.

He noted that security and operational requirements had often been addressed individually without adequate reference to a common national threat assessment or a unified medium-term strategy.

According to him, such an approach could undermine coordination, weaken long-term planning and affect the efficient deployment of resources across the country’s various security theatres.

Tinubu directed that the National Threat Assessment should clearly identify the major threats confronting Nigeria, determine their level of urgency and establish specific operational objectives for addressing them.

He said the five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan would convert the assessment into actionable priorities, outlining the forces and capabilities required in different theatres, existing gaps, equipment and support needs, as well as timelines for implementation.

The committee was also authorised to 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 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,” the President said.

“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 immediate steps to implement the directives.

(NAN)