Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The African Democratic Congress has intensified criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy following the appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, arguing that the move signals a lack of confidence in National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu amid worsening insecurity across Nigeria.
The criticism came from the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, who questioned the rationale behind creating a new security advisory position while an existing National Security Adviser already oversees national security coordination within the presidency.
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Major General Famadewa earlier this week as part of efforts aimed at strengthening internal security coordination, intelligence operations, and collaboration among security agencies confronting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal violence, and other emerging threats across the country.
The appointment was formally announced in a circular issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Government officials described Famadewa as a highly experienced retired military officer with more than three decades of service in intelligence operations, counterterrorism strategy, and international security diplomacy.
However, the ADC said the new appointment raised serious questions about the administration’s confidence in the office of the NSA currently occupied by Ribadu. Abdullahi argued that if the President believed the current national security structure was failing, the proper response would be to replace officials already assigned those responsibilities instead of creating what he described as overlapping offices.
In a strongly worded reaction circulated on social media and later reported by several Nigerian media outlets, Abdullahi described the term “homeland security” as foreign to Nigeria’s political and constitutional framework. According to him, the phrase is rooted in specific historical and ideological experiences found in countries such as the United States and Israel and lacks practical relevance within the Nigerian context.
He argued that the creation of the office could further complicate coordination within Nigeria’s already crowded security architecture. Abdullahi maintained that adding another security adviser within the presidency may deepen confusion regarding operational responsibilities among existing agencies and presidential advisers.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent security crises across several regions. Armed attacks, kidnappings for ransom, insurgent activities in the North East, and deadly communal clashes in parts of the Middle Belt have continued to place pressure on the Tinubu administration despite repeated assurances that security conditions would improve.
Public debate over Nigeria’s security leadership has intensified in recent months as opposition parties and civil society groups accuse the government of failing to decisively address widespread violence affecting both rural communities and urban centers.
Although the presidency has defended its security reforms and appointments as necessary measures to strengthen coordination, critics insist that repeated restructuring without visible improvement on the ground raises concerns about policy effectiveness.
Government officials have not publicly responded directly to Abdullahi’s demand for Ribadu’s replacement. However, supporters of the administration argue that the appointment of a Special Adviser on Homeland Security should not be interpreted as a vote of no confidence in the NSA but rather as part of broader efforts to reinforce national security management.
Political analysts noted that the newly created advisory role appears designed to focus specifically on domestic security coordination and intelligence fusion, areas that have become increasingly important as Nigeria faces evolving threats from non state actors and organized criminal groups.
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation stated that Famadewa’s appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to intelligence driven operations and stronger inter agency collaboration in tackling emerging security challenges nationwide.
Observers also pointed to growing public pressure on the Tinubu administration over insecurity as a likely factor behind the latest appointment. Security concerns remain one of the most sensitive issues confronting the federal government nearly three years into Tinubu’s presidency.
Despite official assurances, many communities across northern and central Nigeria continue to report deadly attacks and abductions, while economic pressures linked to insecurity have affected farming, transportation, and local commerce in several states.
The opposition ADC said rather than multiplying offices, the government should focus on accountability and measurable security outcomes. Abdullahi insisted that Nigerians were more concerned about improved safety and protection than the creation of new titles within the presidency.
The debate surrounding the appointment has also revived broader discussions about institutional overlaps within Nigeria’s security framework. Analysts say multiple agencies and advisory offices sometimes operate with unclear boundaries, potentially weakening operational efficiency during crises.
As reactions continue, the presidency is expected to clarify the exact responsibilities and operational scope of the newly created Homeland Security office, especially regarding how it will relate with the National Security Adviser and existing intelligence structures.
For now, the controversy has added another political dimension to the national conversation on insecurity, with opposition parties increasingly positioning security performance as a central issue ahead of future political contests.
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