The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has set a four-week deadline for a 33-member committee to review Nigeria's 2019 National Security Strategy and develop a new framework to tackle emerging security threats. The committee was inaugurated at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Ribadu emphasized that the new National Security Strategy 2026 must reflect the country's changing security environment.
Ribadu noted that Nigeria's domestic, regional, and global security landscapes have changed significantly since the last review in 2019. He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cyber threats, misinformation, economic challenges, food insecurity, and environmental problems as key issues the new strategy must address. The strategy aims to provide practical solutions to Nigeria's evolving security challenges.
The National Security Strategy 2026 will serve as an overarching framework for coordinating national security, resilience, and sustainable development in Nigeria. Ribadu urged committee members to engage relevant institutions and stakeholders to develop a comprehensive, realistic, and implementable strategy. He assured the committee that the ONSA would provide the necessary administrative, technical, and logistical support.
The Deputy Chairman of the committee, retired Maj.-Gen. Evi Onumajuru, noted that the changing nature of security threats requires a comprehensive realignment of the country's security priorities. He emphasized that conventional threats, such as terrorism and insurgency, have become increasingly intertwined with non-kinetic challenges like cyber vulnerabilities and economic instability.
Onumajuru stated that the committee would consult with resource institutions, private-sector representatives, and traditional leaders to ensure the strategy addresses a broad range of national security concerns. He described the four-week deadline as demanding but emphasized that the committee would begin work immediately to meet the target.
The committee, chaired by Maj.-Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello (Rt), comprises representatives from government ministries, the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies, civil society organizations, and academia. The committee's task is to produce a strategy that is realistic and implementable, aligning with the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.
The new strategy is expected to provide an overarching compass for coordinating national security, resilience, and sustainable development for Nigeria, directly supporting the realization of national objectives in areas such as human security, economic transformation, and national cohesion.
Key points
- The committee has four weeks to review Nigeria's 2019 National Security Strategy and develop a new framework.
- The new strategy must address emerging security threats, including terrorism, banditry, and cyber threats.
- The strategy aims to provide practical solutions to Nigeria's evolving security challenges and align with the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.
