By Peace Erewunmi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to strengthen Nigeria’s response to security challenges.

The President issued the directive during the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja, tasking an 11-member committee with producing both documents within 90 days.

The committee will be coordinated by the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa. It includes 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; and the three service chiefs.

The Directors-General of the Department of State Services and National Intelligence Agency are also members of the committee.

According to the President, security agencies have often planned and conducted operations independently without sufficient reference to a shared national threat assessment or unified medium-term strategy. He said this approach could make inter-agency coordination more difficult and lead to inefficient deployment of security resources.

The National Threat Assessment will identify Nigeria’s major security threats, rank them according to urgency and establish the operational objectives required to address them.

The proposed five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will translate the assessment into specific operational priorities, including the forces and capabilities required in different theatres of operation.

The plan will also identify equipment and logistical gaps and establish a timetable for addressing them. It is expected to provide the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan.

Tinubu said recent successful security operations had demonstrated the importance of effective coordination between defence, intelligence and security agencies.

The President directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit the completed documents within 90 days for his consideration and approval. Once approved, the Strategic Defence Operations Plan will serve as the principal framework for coordinating Nigeria’s military and defence operations over the medium term.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the National Security Adviser were also directed to take the necessary steps to ensure immediate implementation of the presidential directive.