Tinubu orders 90-day national threat assessment, five-year defence plan

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate development of a five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan and a comprehensive National Threat Assessment to give Nigeria a unified response to its evolving security challenges.

Tinubu said the framework would establish a common assessment of the threats confronting the country, define operational objectives and identify the capabilities required to tackle 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 what could be achieved through effective coordination.

The operation demonstrated what can be achieved when our agencies work together with a clear objective and the necessary intelligence.

He noted that security requirements were often addressed individually without sufficient reference to a shared national threat assessment or a unified medium-term strategy.

According to Tinubu, this approach complicates coordination and can result in inefficient deployment of resources.

The National Threat Assessment will identify Nigeria’s principal security threats, rank them according to urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.

The five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan will then translate those findings into specific priorities, including the forces and capabilities required in different theatres, existing gaps, equipment and logistical needs, and a timetable for implementation.

The committee may consult or co-opt officials from other ministries, departments and agencies where necessary.

Tinubu directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit both documents for his consideration and approval within 90 days.

It will also provide the basis for a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, with resources aligned to clearly established operational priorities and national security requirements.