Tinubu approves national threat assessment, five-year defence plan

.Stresses need for coherent framework to respond to evolving security threats nationwide

.Directs EFCC to channel seized funds, unclaimed dividends to NELFUND

President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate preparation of a comprehensive national threat assessment and a rolling five-year strategic defence operations plan to strengthen coordination across Nigeria’s defence, intelligence and security capabilities.

This was contained in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, saying that President Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday at the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, stressing the need for a coherent framework to respond to evolving security threats nationwide.

The President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, according to the statement, will coordinate and provide secretariat support for the 11-man committee Tinubu constituted to draft the strategic defence operations plan.

“Other members of the committee are the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa; the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Matawalle; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

“The Director-General of the Department of State Service, Tosin Ajayi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Muhammed Muhammed, are also members of the committee,” the statement partly read.

The President said the new framework would provide a common understanding of the threats facing the nation, the operational objectives to be achieved and the capabilities required to address them.

According to Tinubu, recent security successes, including the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, demonstrated the importance of improved coordination among defence, security and intelligence agencies.

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

Tinubu noted that operational requirements were currently often considered individually, without sufficient reference to an agreed national threat assessment or unified medium-term plan, making coordination more difficult and limiting the efficient deployment of resources.

He said the national threat assessment would identify the principal threats facing the country, determine their relative urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.

Tinubu also said that the strategic defence operations plan, he added, would translate the assessment into clear operational priorities, identifying the forces and capabilities required in each theatre, existing capability gaps, equipment and support needs, and an implementation timetable.

Under the presidential directive, the committee may also consult or co-opt representatives of other ministries, departments and agencies where their participation is required.

President Tinubu further directed the committee to commence work immediately and submit the completed National Threat Assessment and Strategic Defence Operations Plan for his consideration and approval within 90 days.

“Once approved, the plan will serve as the principal framework for coordinating military and defence operations over the medium term,” the statement added. “It will also provide the basis for preparing a corresponding multi-year defence expenditure and procurement plan, ensuring that resources are directed towards agreed operational priorities and critical national security requirements.”

The President also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser to take all necessary steps to give immediate effect to the directives.

In another development, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to channel all seized funds, unclaimed dividends, and trust funds to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

NELFUND is a federal government agency established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on 3 April 2024.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu in the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

The Minister said the President directed that all recovered funds, unclaimed dividends from the capital market, and dormant accounts should be diverted to NELFUND to support students’ education.

He explained that the measure is intended to ensure that NELFUND remains financially buoyant to meet growing obligations.

“The president, in his benevolence, has now directed that all funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission be diverted to NELFUND to continue to support its funding.

 “This was also approved by FEC: that all unclaimed dividends from the Capital Market Trust Fund and the Dormant Account Trust Fund should also be directed to NELFUND, so that NELFUND will be financially buoyant to meet its growing obligations today.

“Note, and the President was very clear, not seized properties, or recovered looted funds, but liquid funds, from the EFCC will now be transferred to NELFUND,” Alausa said.

Dr. Alausa stated that the education of the children cannot wait, adding that it is of utmost importance to the President, who has vowed to do everything possible to protect the future of every Nigerian child and student.

The Education minister said: “The President also directed, and FEC approved, that all unclaimed dividends from the capital market trust fund and the dormant account trust fund should be directed to NELFUND, so that NELFUND is financially buoyant to meet its growing obligations.”

He said legal reviews are being conducted to determine necessary changes for legal clarity and compliance.

“Funds currently subject to legal challenges will be excluded from the transfer process. The plan is to transfer unencumbered funds that were previously looted and rightfully belong to Nigerians,” he added.

He said there is a proposal to utilize the recovered funds to prioritize the education of children.