President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to strengthen coordination among Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security agencies.
The directive was issued on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.
Under the directive, the President constituted an 11-member committee to develop the Strategic Defence Operations Plan, with his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, serving as coordinator and providing secretariat support.
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.
Tinubu said the new framework was necessary to provide a unified understanding of the threats confronting the country, define operational objectives and identify the capabilities required to address them.
He cited recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as evidence of the importance of 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,” the President said.
According to Tinubu, operational requirements have often been considered separately, without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or a unified medium-term plan. He said this has made coordination more difficult and limited the efficient deployment of resources.
The National Threat Assessment, he explained, would identify the major threats facing Nigeria, assess their urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan would then translate the assessment into clear operational priorities, including the forces and capabilities required across 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 their participation is considered necessary.
Tinubu directed the committee to commence 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.
It will also form the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with resources 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 all necessary steps to give immediate effect to the directives.
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