President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given Nigeria’s defence, intelligence, and security chiefs a 90-day ultimatum to draft a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a Five-Year Strategic Defence Operations Plan. The directive aims to overhaul the nation’s security architecture, shifting military strategy from reactive operational responses to a proactive, foresight-driven approach.
​The mandate was formally delivered on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on National Threat Assessment and Five-Year Strategic Defence Operations Plan. The event took place at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Conference Room in the Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
​Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, officially inaugurated the high-level committee. Akume emphasized that the administration is determined to eliminate institutional silos, streamline procurement, and align intelligence gathering with concrete operational objectives.
​”In simple terms, we must establish a clear path from threat to objective, from objective to capability, from capability to resource, and from resource to measurable outcome,” Akume stated during his inaugural address.
He noted that while Nigerian forces continue to achieve victories across various operational theatres, a unified medium-term strategy is required to anticipate emerging threats rather than merely responding after attacks occur.
​The presidential committee brings together top military, intelligence, and executive leadership, including National Security Adviser (NSA); Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence: General Christopher Musa (rtd), Minister of State for Defence: Bello Muhammad Matawalle, Chief of Defence Staff; General Olufemi Oluyede
The Service Chiefs & Intelligence Heads; Chief of Army Staff Major General Waidi Shaibu and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, alongside heads of key security and intelligence agencies.
​The committee is coordinated by the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa (rtd), who will also provide secretariat support and oversee specialized subcommittees to meet the tight deadline.
​Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed in an official statement from the State House that the resulting documents will serve as the master blueprint for Nigeria’s multi-year defence budget and hardware procurement.
​The committee must submit its finalized plan for President Tinubu’s approval before the end of November 2026.
