Centre Backs Tinubu’s National Defence Plan Committee

By Blessing Fali

The Centre for Justice and Human Rights in Africa, CJHA, has expressed strong support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to establish a high-level committee to develop a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan.

The Centre described the initiative as a timely move that could strengthen coordination among Nigeria’s military, intelligence and other security agencies while providing a clearer strategy for tackling the country’s evolving security challenges.

The committee, coordinated by the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, includes the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, the service chiefs and the heads of key intelligence agencies.

CJHA said the 90-day deadline given to the committee demonstrates the urgency attached to the assignment. It noted that the proposed plan would identify Nigeria’s major security threats, rank them according to urgency, establish operational priorities and determine the equipment and capabilities required to address security challenges.

The Centre also stressed that sustained and predictable funding would be essential to the success of the defence strategy, particularly for equipment modernisation, intelligence gathering, personnel welfare and joint military operations.

It urged the National Assembly and relevant government agencies to align defence spending with the priorities that will emerge from the five-year plan and ensure that security resources are used effectively and transparently.

Once approved, the strategic defence plan is expected to serve as a framework for military and defence operations and guide multi-year defence expenditure and procurement.

CJHA therefore called on military leaders, civilian authorities, lawmakers and Nigerians to support the committee and the implementation of its recommendations, describing the exercise as an important step towards building a more coordinated and proactive national security system.