In a significant move to keep Nigeria safe in a rapidly changing world, the Office of the National Security Adviser has officially set the wheels in motion for a thorough refresh of the country’s national security blueprint. The current strategy, known as the National Security Strategy 2019, has served its time, but the threats facing Nigeria today look very different from those of just a few years ago. To address this, a new 33-member committee has been sworn in to review the old framework and craft a fresh, forward-looking strategy that speaks to the realities of the moment. The committee’s task is not just to update a document; it is to reimagine how Nigeria protects its people, its territory, and its future in an era marked by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, the rapid spread of misinformation, and the ever-growing menace of cybercrime. These are not abstract dangers—they are everyday realities for many Nigerians, and the new strategy is being built with that urgency in mind.
The team assembled for this critical assignment is led by retired Nigerian Army Major General Sarkin Bello, a seasoned military mind with decades of experience navigating complex security landscapes. He is supported by his deputy, Emeka Onumajuru, also a retired major general, bringing a wealth of operational knowledge and strategic thinking to the table. The committee is not a narrow group of military officers, though. It deliberately includes representatives from the armed forces, intelligence agencies, government ministries, civil society, and academia. This broad mix is intentional: security in the modern age cannot be left to soldiers alone. It requires the insight of educators, the perspective of civil society leaders, and the coordination of government at every level. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, officially inaugurated the committee on Thursday, 29th October, giving members a clear and pressing deadline—they are expected to submit the final draft of the new National Security Strategy 2026 to his office by 27th November. That tight timeline underscores just how seriously the government takes this task.
Speaking through the committee’s chairperson, Mr. Ribadu made it clear why this review is so necessary. The domestic, regional, and global security environments have shifted dramatically since 2019. What worked then, he argued, cannot be assumed to work now. The new strategy must do more than respond to old threats—it must anticipate future disruptions, reflect current realities, and support the broader national objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. That agenda is centered on human security, economic transformation, and national cohesion, all of which are deeply connected to how security is understood and delivered. For too long, security has been viewed narrowly as the absence of conflict. But true security, the NSA suggested, also means protecting livelihoods, ensuring food security, defending democratic institutions, and building resilience against shocks that may not come with guns but can still destabilize the nation. He stressed that Nigeria now demands a strategy that is not just theoretical but realistic and implementable—a document that can actually guide decisions, budgets, and actions on the ground.
The deputy chair, Emeka Onumajuru, added his own powerful perspective on why this review is so urgent. He noted that the country’s changing security environment requires a complete reassessment of strategic priorities. Traditional security threats like terrorism, insurgency, and banditry are no longer separate from other forms of instability. They have become deeply intertwined with what he called non-kinetic challenges—cyber threats, economic instability, food insecurity, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. In other words, a drought in one region can fuel conflict in another; a viral misinformation campaign can undermine public trust faster than any armed group; an economic downturn can create the desperation that drives people into crime. This interconnectedness means Nigeria cannot afford to treat security as a collection of isolated problems. The National Security Strategy 2026, he insisted, must be an inclusive, forward-looking, and highly actionable blueprint—one that acknowledges the complexity of the world we live in and offers clear, coordinated responses that cut across traditional boundaries.
To achieve this, the committee will not work in isolation. Onumajuru said the group would engage closely with its secretariat and consult a wide range of resource institutions, private-sector leaders, and traditional rulers. This is a deliberate effort to move beyond the halls of government and tap into the wisdom and experience of people who understand communities at the grassroots level. Traditional rulers, for example, often have deep insight into local conflicts and social dynamics that formal security agencies may overlook. Private-sector leaders understand the economic dimensions of instability, from joblessness to supply chain disruptions. Civil society organizations have their ears to the ground when it comes to human rights, gender-based violence, and the everyday fears of ordinary citizens. By bringing these voices into the process, the committee hopes to build a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to national security. This is not just about making people feel included—it is about crafting a strategy that is genuinely informed by the lived realities of Nigerians from all walks of life.
As the committee now begins its work, the tone is one of urgency, rigor, and shared purpose. Onumajuru urged members to start immediately, emphasizing the need for rigorous analysis, professional integrity, and constructive engagement. He reminded them that the deadline is not a suggestion but a commitment, and that the quality of their work will have lasting consequences for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His closing words to the committee were both a charge and a pledge: together, they will deliver a strategy that firmly safeguards the sovereignty, unity, and future prosperity of Nigeria. It is a lofty goal, but one that is absolutely necessary. Security is not just about responding to emergencies; it is about creating the conditions for peace, growth, and human dignity. In a time of so much uncertainty, having a clear, inclusive, and actionable national security strategy is more than a bureaucratic exercise—it is a foundation for hope. And as the committee settles into its task, the nation watches, aware that the decisions made in the coming weeks will shape how Nigeria confronts the dangers of tomorrow while building the resilience needed to thrive in spite of them.