President Bola Tinubu has approved a Five-Year Strategic Defence Operations Plan to address Nigeria's longstanding security issues, including insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping. The plan, announced by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), aims to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture and improve military effectiveness. The framework will enable a coordinated response to emerging threats and align defence priorities with the country's security needs.
According to the APC PCC spokesperson, Dele Alake, the plan combines sustained military offensives with non-kinetic interventions. The measures aim to decentralize military operations, improve troop deployment, and strengthen responses to security threats. The plan's implementation will be guided by clearly identified security threats and national priorities. This approach seeks to address critical military capability gaps and optimize available resources.
One of the key highlights of the plan is the neutralization of over 15,000 terrorists and bandits in the past three years. Additionally, over 130,000 insurgents and their dependents have surrendered through Operation Safe Corridor, the government's rehabilitation program. The plan also includes the creation of four new Army divisions to enhance military operations and response to security threats.
The President has approved the establishment of two additional Army training depots in Osogbo, Osun State, and Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State. Each facility can train 6,000 recruits simultaneously, bringing their combined training capacity to 12,000 soldiers. The Osogbo depot is already operational, with 5,210 recruits currently undergoing training. This move aims to improve the military's capacity to respond to security challenges.
The administration has also approved the recruitment of 78,000 security personnel, including 28,000 soldiers into the Nigerian Army and 50,000 personnel into the Nigeria Police Force. This recruitment drive aims to strengthen internal security, expand policing capacity, and improve the country's response to criminal activities. The government is investing in military accommodation and operational infrastructure to improve personnel welfare.
The five-year plan seeks to transform Nigeria's security system into a more coordinated, intelligence-led, technology-enabled, and prevention-oriented structure. The framework will ensure that defence spending is guided by clearly identified security threats and national priorities. This approach aims to eliminate unnecessary expenditure and waste in the defence sector.
The APC PCC said the measures reflect Tinubu's determination to strengthen security agencies and ensure personnel are adequately trained, equipped, and deployed to areas facing security challenges. The plan's success will depend on effective implementation and coordination among security agencies. The government has expressed commitment to addressing Nigeria's security challenges and improving the welfare of security personnel.
Key points
- President Bola Tinubu approves a five-year strategic defence plan to combat Nigeria's 17-year security challenges
- The plan aims to strengthen Nigeria's security architecture and improve military effectiveness
- The measures include the neutralization of over 15,000 terrorists and bandits, and the recruitment of 78,000 security personnel
