President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expanded the nation’s security framework by creating a new federal role and appointing a retired military heavyweight to lead it.
Major General Adeinka Fadewa (retd) has been named as the first-ever Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
This landmark appointment was confirmed on Monday through a circular issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).
The document, signed by SGF Senator George Akume and released by Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, signals a strategic shift in how the Presidency handles internal threats.
According to the official statement, the decision “underscores the commitment of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening internal security coordination, enhancing intelligence-driven operations, and deepening inter-agency collaboration in addressing emerging security threats across the country”.
This move is historic. While a few state governments have previously experimented with homeland security titles, no Nigerian president has ever established such a dedicated office at the federal level.
Traditionally, the National Security Adviser (NSA) has held the monopoly on high-level security counsel. The creation of this new office suggests the Tinubu administration wants a more specialized focus on domestic stability and intelligence integration separate from the broader mandate of the NSA.
General Fadewa is not a stranger to high-stakes intelligence work. He comes into the role with over thirty years of military experience, focusing heavily on counter-terrorism and international security diplomacy. His most notable stint was serving as the Principal General Staff Officer at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) between 2015 and 2021.
During that period, he was the driving force behind the creation of the Intelligence Fusion Centre. This platform was a game-changer for the country, as it forced the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Armed Forces to share raw data and collaborate on threat assessments.
After leaving active service, Fadewa remained active in policy circles as a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja. He is also recognized for his academic contributions to the field, specifically his monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which advocates for better cooperation between security agencies and the civilian population.
President Tinubu has expressed high expectations for the retired General, noting that the appointment is designed to improve “coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management”. Fadewa has been tasked with using his technical expertise to push the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda forward.
In a related development, this appointment follows a recent high-level meeting on May 9, 2026, where the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with top United States officials to deepen bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and regional stability, Politics Nigeria earlier reported.
The arrival of a dedicated Homeland Security Adviser is expected to further streamline how Nigeria handles these international security partnerships on the home front.
