President Bola Tinubu has approved 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 Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Tinubu has constituted a nine-member committee to prepare the strategic defence operations plan, with the Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Adeyinka Famadewa, appointed to coordinate the committee and provide secretariat support.
Members of the committee include the National Security Adviser, 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.
The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, are also members.
According to Onanuga, the new framework will establish a common understanding of the threats facing Nigeria, the operational objectives to be achieved and the capabilities required to respond effectively.
He said recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, demonstrated the importance of stronger coordination among defence, security and intelligence agencies.
Onanuga said Tinubu observed that operational requirements were often considered separately, without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan.
He said this had made coordination more difficult and limited the efficient deployment of security resources.
The Strategic Defence Operations Plan will translate the national threat assessment into clear operational priorities. It will identify the forces and capabilities required in each theatre, existing capability gaps, equipment and support requirements, as well as a timetable for implementation.
The committee may also consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where their participation is considered necessary.
“President 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,” Onanuga said.
Once approved, the plan will serve as the principal framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term.
The plan will also provide the basis for preparing a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, ensuring that government resources are directed towards agreed operational priorities and critical national security requirements.
Tinubu has further directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and NSA Nuhu Ribadu to take all necessary steps to ensure the immediate implementation of the directives.
Source: Presidency
