President Bola 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 in Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement, saying the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, would coordinate the committee responsible for preparing the strategic documents and provide secretariat support.
The officials named to participate in the exercise include the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.
The Director-General of the State Security Service, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, were also named as members.
Tinubu said the proposed framework would provide a common understanding of the threats confronting Nigeria, the operational objectives to be achieved and the military, intelligence and security capabilities required to address them.
According to the President, recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, demonstrated the importance of coordination among defence, intelligence and security agencies.
“The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence,” the President said.
Tinubu observed that the operational requirements of security agencies were often considered separately without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan.
He said the absence of a common framework had made inter-agency coordination more difficult and limited the efficient deployment of personnel, equipment and other security resources.
Under the presidential directive, the National Threat Assessment will identify the principal threats confronting the country, determine their relative urgency and establish the operational objectives required to address them.
The five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will subsequently translate the assessment into specific operational priorities, identifying the forces and capabilities required in each theatre of operation.
The plan will also identify existing capability gaps, equipment and logistical support requirements and establish a timetable for implementation.
Tinubu directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan for his consideration and approval within 90 days.
Tinubu directed the committee to commence 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 Nigeria’s military and defence operations over the medium term.
It will also provide the foundation for preparing a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan.
The expenditure plan is expected to ensure that available resources are directed towards agreed operational priorities, identified capability gaps and critical national security requirements.
Tinubu further directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the National Security Adviser to take all necessary steps to give immediate effect to the directive.