President Bola Tinubu has appointed Major General Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.) as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, creating the role at the federal level for the first time in Nigeria’s history.

The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), and signed by the SGF, Sen. George Akume, through the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.

According to the statement, the creation of the office reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, improving intelligence-led operations, and enhancing collaboration among security agencies in addressing emerging threats.

It noted that while some states have previously created similar advisory positions, no Nigerian president had established a dedicated Homeland Security Adviser within the Presidency before now.

The new role is expected to operate alongside existing security structures, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which has traditionally coordinated national security advisory functions.

Famadewa, a retired Major General, brings over three decades of experience in military and intelligence operations, with expertise in counter-terrorism, intelligence fusion, and security strategy.

One of his most notable roles was serving as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, where he played a key role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre. The centre integrates inputs from the Defence Intelligence Agency, DSS, NIA, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces to improve threat assessment and response coordination.

After retirement from active service, he served as a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, focusing on security reform, policing, and civil-security relations.

He is also the author of Policing and National Security in Nigeria, a publication referenced for its policy recommendations on security collaboration.

President Tinubu said the appointment would deepen coordination of homeland security initiatives, improve intelligence integration, and strengthen proactive risk management in line with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.