In what may appear to be the boldest move in recent times to address the persisting insecurity in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has set up a committee to prepare a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling 3-year strategic defence operations plan.

According to a statement by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the plan is also to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security capabilities.

The directive was part of the outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday. During the meeting Tinubu emphasized the need for an immediate and coherent plan to respond to evolving security threats.

Checking Reign of Terror

For 17 years, Nigeria has grappling with a level of insecurity never experienced in the country since the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War which ended in 1970 after 3 years.

Terrorism and banditry in Northern Nigeria, as well as mass kidnappings in the area and parts of the South have seen the killing of thousands of innocent citizens.

Most of the deadly attacks and raids on communities have targeted Christians, though many Muslims have also been killed and kidnapped by the terrorists.

Recently, Tinubu had approved the establishment of four more Divisions of the Nigerian Army in the country, bringing the total army centres to twelve, as part of the steps in tackling the security challenges.

Tinubu’s media aide explained that his Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa, will coordinate the activities of the eleven-member committee, to come up with the strategic defence operations plan.

The committee’s work is expected to provide a full understanding of the security threats facing the nation and the operational capabilities required by all security arms to tackle them.

The committee has three months to submit its report.