Improve intelligence sharing yielding security gains — FG

The Federal Government has announced plans to implement a five-year strategic defence plan following a comprehensive national threat assessment, as it disclosed that improved intelligence coordination led to the capture of one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, Mamuda, and his chief of staff without a shot being fired.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a world press conference of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Akume said President Bola Tinubu approved a new national threat assessment and a five-year defence plan to provide an overarching framework for Nigeria’s security strategy.

“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 said.

He said the overarching security objective was to “achieve a Nigeria where every parent can send their child to school, every market can thrive without fear, and every community can thrive in safety.”

Akume said the government was intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping while improving intelligence gathering, modernising equipment, and strengthening coordination among the military, police, and local communities.

“Our armed forces and security agencies are intensifying operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and annoying thugs. We are similarly improving intelligence, modernising equipment, and enhancing coordination among military, police and local communities,” he said.

He added that the government was strengthening law enforcement and justice systems, improving border security, and investing in community policing.

The Presidency had, about a month earlier, announced that Tinubu directed the immediate preparation of a comprehensive National Threat Assessment and a rolling five-year Strategic Defence Operations Plan.

An 11-member committee, coordinated by the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Maj Gen Adeyinka Famadewa, was constituted to prepare the documents.

The committee includes the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; service chiefs; and the heads of the Department of State Services and National Intelligence Agency.

The Presidency said the National Threat Assessment would identify the principal threats facing the country, determine their relative urgency and establish operational objectives for addressing them.

The Strategic Defence Operations Plan is expected to translate the assessment into operational priorities and provide a framework for strengthening the capabilities of the security agencies.

Akume similarly said the administration remained focused on consolidating security and economic reforms.

He said the government’s broader development agenda was encapsulated in the Renewed Hope National Development Plan 2026–2030, which focuses on productivity, diversification, human capital development and resilience.

“For 66 years we have been one country, and it is our collective duty and resolve as leaders, communities and citizens to keep Nigeria strong and united.

“As we look beyond this anniversary, this administration shall remain focused on consolidating the reforms, deepening stability and delivering growth that improves lives,” Akume said.

The announcement came as Idris said the Federal Government’s improved coordination among security and intelligence agencies led to the capture of Mamuda and his chief of staff.

According to the minister, the two suspects, who he said had attracted bounties from the United States and Europe, were captured without a gunfight.

“During the time of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have seen greater coordination between security agencies and intelligence services. This, indeed, has led to the capture of one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, the so-called Mamuda and his chief of staff. Today, Mamuda and his chief of staff are having their day in court,” Idris said.

“These are people that even nations like the United States and Europe have placed bounties on their heads to capture them. But today, they have been captured without one shot fired,” he added.

Idris said the development demonstrated the impact of intelligence sharing and collaboration among the armed forces and intelligence services.

• Ogun, DP World sign $7bn port investment deal
• FG unveils discount shop for military personnel, veterans
• Shettima: Economic growth must translate to better living standards

“Now, this is an indication of the kind of coordination and collaboration and intelligence sharing happening between the armed forces and intelligence services that is leading to greater efficiency in terms of confronting these criminal elements,” he said.

Beyond intelligence coordination, Idris disclosed that Tinubu had increased the number of Nigerian Army divisions from eight to 12 as part of efforts to bring troops closer to areas of operation.

He said the additional formations would reduce the distance troops have to travel to confront terrorists and other criminal groups.

“All this is to ensure that the armed forces are being brought closer to areas of operation so that they don’t have to travel far and wide to confront these criminal elements and the insurgents who are making life difficult for people,” the minister said.

Idris also disclosed that the Federal Government had approved funding for additional military platforms and equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

He said some of the equipment, including attack helicopters, were now being delivered, explaining that some had been ordered under the previous administration and required lengthy procurement and delivery processes.

The minister said Tinubu had also approved improved welfare and salaries for members of the armed forces, describing the measure as a morale booster for military personnel.

Idris, however, acknowledged that the government had not completely resolved the country’s security challenges, noting that the Tinubu administration had made it a point of duty to acknowledge attacks on communities and ensure a safe return to normalcy.

“The Presidency of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has always acknowledged whenever these misfortunes happen in any part of the country. And the government is also swift to put a system in place to ensure that there is a safe return to normalcy in most of these areas.

“Now, this is not to say that we have solved all the security challenges. The government has never said that. It has not been completely resolved. But we are on a march towards exterminating this once and for all,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said the government had commenced moves to take the benefits of its economic reforms to all 8,809 wards across the country through a new grassroots development programme.

Bagudu, who was responding to a question on why the government’s economic progress had not yet translated into better living conditions for the average Nigerian, said the initiative, approved by the National Economic Council at the behest of the President, was designed to ensure that the benefits of government reforms reached Nigerians at the grassroots.

The initiative, which he said the council had dubbed the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, would map the over 8,000 wards in the country and identify opportunities for generating prosperity in each community.

“The council approved a programme for the nation called the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which is an ambitious programme to map the 8,809 wards of the country, and to provide avenues for generating prosperity so that people residing in those wards can be supported to prosper using a whole-of-society approach,” he said.

The minister said the programme would bring together interventions from all three tiers of government, as well as development partners, foundations, and other supporters.

He said the government had created an environment for greater inclusion through various programmes targeting young people, women, farmers, and other groups.

“So, the opportunities are being created, and deliberate efforts are being made to ensure that every hardworking Nigerian, wherever he or she lives, is supported to achieve prosperity, as well as even ensuring that those who are otherwise handicapped by challenges are not left behind by support systems that ensure that everyone is included, and we do better for everyone,” Bagudu said.

He, however, acknowledged that the country was still far from where it wanted to be economically, citing Nigeria’s per capita economy of less than $2,000, against a $33,000 target under the country’s Agenda 2050.

The minister said Tinubu’s administration has therefore set a target of building a $1tn economy by 2030, while ensuring that the growth was inclusive.

He further noted that the administration’s reforms had resulted in increased resources available to states and local governments, with some receiving up to three or four times their previous allocations.