By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal Government has announced the implementation of a comprehensive five-year strategic defence plan and an updated national threat assessment aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s security framework.
The strategy was highlighted alongside a major counter-terrorism victory: the bloodless capture of key terrorist leader Mamuda and his chief of staff through enhanced intelligence operations.
Speaking Thursday in Abuja at an Inter-Ministerial Committee press conference marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris outlined the administration’s broader security roadmap.
According to Akume, President Bola Tinubu recently approved both the threat assessment and the rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to ensure a unified, modern response to regional instability, banditry, and kidnapping.
“President Tinubu recently approved the development of a new national threat assessment and a five-year defence plan to ensure a coherent security strategy,” Akume stated. He emphasized that the primary goal remains building a country “where every parent can send their child to school, every market can thrive without fear, and every community can thrive in safety.”
The strategy is being crafted by an 11-member committee led by Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), Special Adviser on Homeland Security. The body includes top defense officials such as National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, service chiefs, and heads of intelligence agencies. Their mandate involves identifying national threats, ranking operational priorities, and upgrading agency capabilities.
Highlighting the practical gains of improved intelligence sharing, Minister Mohammed Idris revealed that security forces recently apprehended Mamuda—a high-value target wanted internationally—and his top lieutenant without firing a shot. Both suspects are currently facing prosecution.
“During the time of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have seen greater coordination between security agencies and intelligence services,” Idris said. “These are people that even nations like the United States and Europe have placed bounties on their heads to capture… Today, they have been captured without one shot fired.”
In addition to defense measures, the SGF noted that security efforts are closely tied to economic stability under the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030, which targets productivity, human capital, and national resilience.
