Tinubu Orders 5-Year National Security Threat Assessment, Defence Plan

By Adebola Muili

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered 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.

Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on August 19, 2026.

The President also constituted a nine-man committee to prepare the strategic defence operations plan, with his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, appointed to coordinate the committee 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, 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; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed.

Tinubu said the new framework would provide a common understanding of the threats facing the country, the operational objectives to be achieved and 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 improved 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 him, operational requirements were often considered individually without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan, making coordination more difficult and limiting the efficient deployment of resources.

The National Threat Assessment, Tinubu said, would identify the principal threats facing the country, determine their relative urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.

He added that the Strategic Defence Operations Plan would translate the assessment into clear operational priorities, identifying the forces and capabilities required in each theatre, existing capability gaps, equipment and support needs, 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 required.

Tinubu directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan to him for consideration and approval within 90 days.

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 preparing a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan to ensure that resources are 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.