By Clement John
President Bola Tinubu has appointed retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, creating the position for the first time 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, Senator George Akume, and released by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, said the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening internal security coordination.
According to the statement, the new office is expected to enhance intelligence-driven operations and improve collaboration among security agencies in tackling emerging threats across the country.
Although some state governments have created similar positions in the past, no Nigerian president had previously established a dedicated Homeland Security advisory role within the presidency.
The move represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s security structure, where advisory responsibilities have traditionally been concentrated under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Famadewa brings more than three decades of military and intelligence experience to the role, with expertise spanning national security strategy, counter-terrorism, intelligence operations and international security diplomacy.
One of his major assignments was serving 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 platform designed to improve intelligence sharing and national threat assessment among the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces.
After retiring from active military service, Famadewa became a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, where he contributed to policy discussions on policing, civil-security relations and national security reforms.
He is also the author of “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” a monograph noted for its recommendations on strengthening cooperation between civil authorities and security institutions.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the appointment would improve coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration and proactive risk management across the country.
He urged Famadewa to deploy his experience in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.