President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, marking the first time such a position has been created at the federal level in Nigeria.
The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). The statement, conveyed through a circular signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, was released by the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.
According to the presidency, the new role reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, improving intelligence-driven operations, and enhancing collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging threats across the country.
Although some state governments have previously established similar positions at the sub-national level, no Nigerian president has ever created a dedicated homeland security advisory office within the presidency.
The development signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s traditional security framework, where strategic security advisory responsibilities have largely been concentrated within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Fadewa, who becomes the pioneer occupant of the office, brings more than three decades of military and intelligence experience spanning counter-terrorism operations, intelligence coordination, national security strategy, and international security diplomacy.
One of the defining moments of his career was his tenure as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021. During that period, he played a key role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre — a multi-agency intelligence platform designed to improve national threat assessment and strengthen coordination among agencies including the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces.
Following his retirement from active military service, Fadewa joined the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja as a Senior Research Fellow, contributing to policy discussions on policing, national security reforms, and civil-security cooperation.
He is also the author of the widely referenced monograph, Policing and National Security in Nigeria, noted for its practical recommendations on strengthening collaboration between civil authorities and security institutions.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the appointment would further enhance homeland security coordination, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management, while urging the retired general to deploy his vast experience in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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