Tinubu Establishes New Homeland Security Office, Appoints Retired Major General Fadewa as Adviser

By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong

In a major move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s internal security framework, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security a position being created for the first time at the federal level.

The appointment, announced on Monday through a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), signals a significant shift in the nation’s security architecture as the administration intensifies efforts to confront rising security threats across the country.

According to the statement, the appointment was conveyed via a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and released by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.

The newly established office is expected to strengthen coordination among security and intelligence agencies, improve internal security management, and support the Federal Government’s broader strategy for combating insecurity nationwide.

Describing the appointment as strategic and timely, the Presidency noted that the move reflects the Tinubu administration’s determination to deepen intelligence-driven security operations, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and build a more proactive national response to emerging threats.

While some state governments have, from time to time, introduced similar advisory roles, no previous Nigerian president had created a dedicated Homeland Security Adviser position within the Presidency, making the development a landmark decision in the country’s security governance structure.

The creation of the office also marks a departure from Nigeria’s traditional security framework, where advisory responsibilities have historically been concentrated within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Fadewa, a highly respected retired military officer, brings over three decades of experience in military operations, intelligence coordination, counter-terrorism, strategic security planning, and international security diplomacy to the pioneering role.

One of the defining moments of his career was his service as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021. During his tenure, he played a central role in the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre, a multi-agency intelligence platform that integrated the operations of the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces to strengthen national threat assessment and improve coordinated security responses.

Following his retirement from active military service, Fadewa joined the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja as a Senior Research Fellow, where he continued to shape national conversations on policing reforms, civil-security cooperation, and strategic security policy.

He is also the author of the influential monograph “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” widely regarded as an important contribution to policy thinking on civil-security collaboration and national security reform.

President Tinubu expressed confidence that Fadewa’s appointment would significantly boost the coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management, while urging him to deploy his vast expertise in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.