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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s National Security Strategy to address the evolving threats posed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, economic instability, food insecurity and other emerging security challenges.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday inaugurated a committee to review the 2019 National Security Strategy and develop a new framework for coordinating security operations, strengthening national resilience and tackling existing and emerging threats.
The committee has been given four weeks to submit its final draft of the proposed National Security Strategy 2026, which is expected to provide a comprehensive blueprint for addressing Nigeria’s conventional and non-conventional security challenges.
Speaking at the inauguration at the headquarters of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja, Ribadu said Nigeria’s domestic, regional and global security environments had changed significantly since 2019, making a comprehensive reassessment of the country’s security priorities imperative.
Represented by retired Major General Sarkin Bello, the NSA said the new strategy must address the growing complexity of security threats, particularly the intersection of terrorism, insurgency and banditry with cyber vulnerabilities, misinformation, economic challenges, food insecurity and environmental problems.
“Our national security landscape is undergoing rapid and profound transformations. Since the last review of our strategy in 2019, the domestic, regional and global security environments have changed dramatically, with intensity,” he said.
Ribadu stressed the need for a forward-looking strategy capable of anticipating emerging threats rather than relying solely on reactive measures to address existing challenges.
According to him, the National Security Strategy 2026 would provide an overarching framework for coordinating national security efforts, strengthening resilience and supporting sustainable development, while aligning security priorities with the Federal Government’s broader economic and social objectives.
“The National Security Strategy 2026 will serve as an overarching compass for coordinating national security, resilience and sustainable development for Nigeria. It must reflect our current realities, anticipate future disruptions and directly support the realisation of our national objectives amid the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of human security, economic transformation and national cohesion,” he stated.
The NSA charged committee members to undertake extensive consultations with relevant institutions and stakeholders to ensure that the proposed framework reflected the country’s security realities and could be effectively implemented.
He emphasised that the government needed a practical and achievable strategy, rather than a document filled with recommendations that could not be translated into concrete action.
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“Engage robustly with our resource institutions and strategic stakeholders to produce a comprehensive, realistic and actionable document. Nigeria demands a strategy that is realistic and implementable,” Ribadu said.
He assured the committee that ONSA would provide the necessary administrative, technical and logistical support to enable it to complete the assignment successfully within the stipulated period.
In his acceptance remarks, the committee’s Deputy Chairman, retired Major General Evi Onumajuru, said the changing nature of security threats had made a comprehensive strategic realignment necessary.
He noted that conventional security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency and banditry, had become increasingly intertwined with non-kinetic threats such as cyber vulnerabilities, economic instability, food insecurity and climate change, requiring a broader and more coordinated national response.
“To address these complexities, our nation requires an overarching framework that moves beyond reactive measures. The National Security Strategy 2026 must be an inclusive, forward-looking and highly actionable blueprint,” he said.
Onumajuru disclosed that the committee would consult relevant government institutions, private-sector representatives, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that the new strategy incorporated diverse perspectives on the country’s security challenges.
Acknowledging the demanding four-week deadline, he assured that members would immediately commence work to meet the Federal Government’s expectations.
“Our timeline is quite unyielding. We have exactly four weeks from today to submit our final draft copies to the National Security Adviser. So, it demands immediate, focused momentum,” he stated.
The committee, chaired by retired Major General Sarkin Bello, comprises representatives of government ministries, the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, law enforcement organisations, civil society and academia.
Institutions represented include Defence Headquarters, the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The proposed National Security Strategy 2026 is expected to replace the 2019 framework and establish a coordinated national approach to tackling security threats, including those that extend beyond conventional military and law enforcement operations.
