President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security architecture.
The President gave the directive on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the move is to provide a coherent framework for responding to evolving security threats nationwide.
President Tinubu constituted an 11-man committee to draft the Strategic Defence Operations Plan. The committee will be coordinated by his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa.
Other members 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, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.
The President said the National Threat Assessment would identify the principal threats facing the country, determine their urgency, and set operational objectives. The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate the assessment into clear priorities, outline required forces and capabilities, identify gaps, and provide an implementation timetable.
According to him, operational requirements are currently considered in isolation without reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified plan, which limits efficient deployment of resources.
Citing the recent rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA of Oyo State, President Tinubu said the success showed what could be achieved “when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence.”
The President directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit both documents 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 and will guide a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan.
He further directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser to take all necessary steps to give immediate effect to the directives.
