By Ayo Ayodele
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 unified framework to address the country’s evolving security challenges.
Tinubu appointed his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, to coordinate and provide secretariat support for the nine-man committee responsible for preparing the strategic defence operations plan.
Members of the committee include the National Security Adviser, Malam 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 the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
The President said the new framework would establish a common understanding of the threats confronting Nigeria, define operational objectives and identify the capabilities required to tackle them effectively.
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 defence, security and intelligence agencies.
“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,” Tinubu said.
According to the President, operational requirements are often considered separately without adequate reference to an agreed national threat assessment or a unified medium-term plan. He said this situation could make coordination more difficult and limit the efficient deployment of resources.
The National Threat Assessment is expected to identify the major threats facing the country, assess their relative urgency and establish operational objectives for tackling them.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate the assessment into specific operational priorities, including the forces and capabilities required in different theatres, existing capability gaps, equipment and support requirements, as well as an implementation timetable.
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 and approval 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 form the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with the aim of ensuring that government resources are channelled towards agreed 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 all necessary steps to implement the directives immediately.