By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate development 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.
Tinubu issued the directive on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, saying a unified strategic framework was necessary to provide a coordinated and sustained response to the country’s evolving security challenges.
Under the directive, the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, will coordinate the 11-member committee responsible for preparing the strategic documents and provide secretariat support.
The committee comprises the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, 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.
Others 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 provide a common understanding of the threats confronting the country, define operational objectives and identify the capabilities required to respond effectively.
He cited recent security operations, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as evidence of the results that could be achieved through stronger inter-agency coordination.
“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that security agencies currently assess and plan for many operational requirements independently, often without adequate reference to a shared national threat assessment or unified medium-term strategy.
He said such an approach could make coordination more difficult and limit the effective deployment of resources.
National threat assessment
Under the President’s directive, the National Threat Assessment will identify and rank the principal threats facing Nigeria according to their urgency and strategic significance.
It will also establish operational objectives and priorities for addressing the identified threats.
The five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate those assessments into specific operational requirements.
According to the President, the plan will identify the forces and capabilities required across different operational theatres, existing capability gaps, equipment and logistical needs, as well as a clear timetable for implementation.
The committee is authorised to consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where necessary to ensure that the assessment reflects the country’s broader security requirements.
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 provide the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with the objective of aligning government resources with 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 immediate steps to implement the directives.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The initiative comes amid continued efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and strategic planning in response to Nigeria’s complex and evolving security threats.