Tinubu Names Fadewa Special Adviser on Homeland Security
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, a move the Presidency says is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s internal security architecture and improve coordination among key security institutions.
The appointment was announced through an official statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by Senator George Akume. The Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Dr Ibrahim Kana, subsequently confirmed implementation details, according to the Presidency.
The Presidency stated that the creation of the Homeland Security advisory role reflects the administration’s growing emphasis on intelligence-led policing, inter-agency collaboration, and more effective responses to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Officials described the position as a high-level advisory role focused on strategic guidance on internal security matters, policy formulation support, and improved coordination among security agencies.
Security officials familiar with the development noted that the new position will not replace existing security structures. Instead, it is expected to function as a coordinating hub, improving communication and operational synergy between agencies including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Defence Intelligence Agency, and the National Intelligence Agency.
Fadewa brings considerable experience to the role. Over more than three decades of military service, he held key command and intelligence positions. One of his most significant roles was serving as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, during which he contributed to strengthening inter-agency intelligence collaboration across Nigeria’s major security institutions.
He also played a role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre, a multi-agency platform that brings together the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, and the National Intelligence Agency to facilitate real-time information exchange and coordinated security operations. The centre is widely regarded as a significant step toward improving Nigeria’s capacity to respond to complex security threats.
Following his retirement from active military service, Fadewa served as a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, where he focused on security sector reform, counter-insurgency strategies, and policing effectiveness, according to the Presidency.
The Presidency stated that his appointment is consistent with President Tinubu’s broader security reform agenda, which prioritises improved intelligence coordination, stronger institutional collaboration, and more proactive responses to emerging threats.
Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent insurgency in the North East, armed banditry across the North West and parts of the North Central region, and rising kidnapping cases in several states. Officials believe that strengthening coordination at the highest level of government will help reduce operational gaps between security agencies and improve response times during security incidents.
The Presidency emphasised that improving homeland security remains a central priority of the current administration, particularly as the government confronts multiple security threats requiring coordinated and intelligence-driven solutions across federal and state levels.