Inaugurating the committee, its Chairman, Major General Sarki Yaki Bello (rtd), said Nigeria’s domestic, regional and global security environments had undergone significant transformations since the last review in 2019, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of the country’s security priorities and response mechanisms.
He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cyber threats, misinformation, economic challenges, food insecurity and environmental concerns as some of the complex threats confronting the nation.
According to him, the National Security Strategy 2026 will serve as an overarching framework for coordinating national security, strengthening resilience and supporting sustainable development.
Bello stressed that the new strategy must reflect Nigeria’s current realities, anticipate future security disruptions and align with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of human security, economic transformation and national cohesion.
He urged committee members drawn from government ministries, the Armed Forces, civil society and academia to demonstrate professionalism, patriotism and diligence in discharging their responsibilities.
The committee chairman also emphasised the need for extensive consultations with relevant institutions and strategic stakeholders to ensure that the final document is comprehensive, realistic and actionable.
He assured members that the Office of the National Security Adviser would provide the necessary administrative, technical and logistical support to facilitate the assignment.
In his welcome remarks, the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Major General Emeka Onumajuru (rtd), said the evolving security landscape required a strategic realignment capable of addressing both conventional and non-conventional threats.
Onumajuru noted that traditional security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency and banditry, were increasingly intertwined with non-kinetic vulnerabilities such as cyber threats, economic instability, food insecurity and climate change.
He explained that the proposed strategy must go beyond reactive security measures by establishing an inclusive, forward-looking and practical framework that integrates national defence with economic prosperity, good governance and human security.
The deputy chairman described the committee’s broad-based composition as a major strength, noting that the participation of security agencies, government institutions, civil society and academia would facilitate a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to national security.
He added that the committee would engage resource institutions, private-sector representatives and traditional leaders to gather relevant perspectives and develop a strategy that reflects the country’s diverse security needs.
Onumajuru disclosed that the committee had been given a demanding timeline to submit its final draft to the National Security Adviser, calling on members to demonstrate commitment, analytical rigour and professional integrity throughout the process.
He expressed confidence that collective efforts and constructive engagement would produce a strategy capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, unity and long-term prosperity.
The committee is expected to submit its final draft on Friday, November 27, 2026.
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