By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening intelligence coordination and enhancing Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
The appointment, announced on Monday in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, underscores the administration’s renewed push to tackle insecurity through intelligence-driven operations and improved inter-agency collaboration.
According to the statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, the newly created position is designed to reinforce proactive responses to emerging security threats across the country.
The Presidency described Fadewa as a seasoned military intelligence expert with more than three decades of experience spanning counter-terrorism, national security strategy, intelligence coordination, and international security diplomacy.
Before retiring from active service, Fadewa served as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser from 2015 to 2021, where he played a key role in developing Nigeria’s intelligence coordination framework.
He is credited with spearheading the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Office of the National Security Adviser — a multi-agency platform bringing together the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces to improve threat assessment and strategic security responses.
Government officials say the initiative significantly strengthened intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies.
Following his retirement, Fadewa joined the Nigerian Army Resource Centre as a Senior Research Fellow, contributing to policy discussions on national security reforms, policing, and civil-security cooperation.
He also authored a monograph titled Policing and National Security in Nigeria, which offers policy recommendations for improving collaboration between security institutions and civil authorities.
Akume stated that President Tinubu is confident the appointment will bolster ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other security challenges confronting the country.
“President Tinubu expressed confidence that the appointment of Major General Fadewa (retd) will further enhance the administration’s efforts toward achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria through improved coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management,” the statement read.
The appointment marks the first time the office of Special Adviser on Homeland Security has been created in Nigeria, reflecting growing concerns over the need for a more coordinated national security response amid rising violent crimes across several regions of the country.
Edited by Chukwunonso Arinzechi
