Who Is Major General Adeyinka Fadewa? Tinubu’s New Homeland Security Adviser

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security, making it the first time such a position has been created in Nigeria.

The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and issued by the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana.

The Presidency described Fadewa as a highly decorated retired military officer known for his contributions to intelligence operations, counter-terrorism strategy, military coordination, and national security planning.

“The appointment underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening internal security coordination, improving intelligence-driven operations, and deepening collaboration among security agencies to address emerging security threats across the country.”

Who Is Major General Adeyinka Fadewa?

Adeyinka Fadewa, also known in some reports as Adeyinka Famadewa, is a retired Major General of the Nigerian Army with more than 30 years of experience in military service, intelligence operations, and national security management.

He built a reputation within Nigeria’s security establishment through years of involvement in military intelligence, strategic operations, counter-terrorism activities, and national defense coordination.

Security analysts regard him as one of the notable figures behind efforts to modernize intelligence cooperation among Nigerian security agencies.

His Role At The Office Of The National Security Adviser

One of the defining moments of Fadewa’s career came between 2015 and 2021 when he served as Principal General Staff Officer to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

During his time at ONSA, he reportedly played a major role in improving inter-agency intelligence operations and strategic security planning.
His position exposed him to high-level national security coordination involving agencies such as the:

• Department of State Services (DSS)
• National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
• Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
• Nigeria Police Force
• Nigerian Armed Forces
  “He spearheaded the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Office of the National Security Adviser, creating an integrated multi-agency intelligence platform that brought together the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces to improve national threat assessment and strategic response coordination.”

Intelligence Fusion Centre And Security Coordination

Fadewa is widely credited with leading the establishment of the Intelligence Fusion Centre (IFC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The IFC was designed to improve intelligence sharing among Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies by creating a centralized coordination platform.

The initiative aimed to reduce communication gaps, improve threat analysis, and strengthen coordinated responses against terrorism, organized crime, and other national security threats.

Security experts believe the Intelligence Fusion Centre became an important platform for intelligence-led operations and strategic security management.

Academic And Research Contributions
Following his retirement from military service, Fadewa became a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
His research interests focused on policing reforms, civil-security cooperation, institutional coordination, and national defense policy.

He also authored a monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which explored ways to improve collaboration between civilian authorities and security agencies.

The publication has been described as offering practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s internal security framework and improving inter-agency cooperation.

Why Was Adeyinka Fadewa Appointed?

According to the Presidency, the appointment forms part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen internal security coordination, improve intelligence-driven operations, and deepen collaboration among security agencies in responding to emerging threats nationwide.

Officials believe Fadewa’s decades of operational and strategic experience make him suitable for the newly created role.
The position is expected to focus on improving homeland security coordination, intelligence integration, risk management, and institutional collaboration within Nigeria’s security structure.

“President Tinubu expressed confidence that the appointment of Major General Fadewa (retd) will further enhance the administration’s efforts toward achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria through improved coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management.”

The appointment also comes at a time the Federal Government is under growing pressure to address security concerns affecting different parts of the country.

Analysts say the decision to appoint a retired military intelligence officer with extensive counter-terrorism and intelligence experience suggests that the Tinubu administration is prioritizing intelligence-led security management and stronger institutional coordination.

Many observers believe Fadewa’s background in intelligence fusion, strategic security planning, and counter-terrorism operations could influence Nigeria’s homeland security policies in the coming years.

What Does The Appointment Mean For Nigeria?

The creation of the Homeland Security Adviser position is seen by many security experts as a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to internal security management.

The development comes as Nigeria continues to face security challenges including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, violent crimes, and concerns about coordination among security agencies.

Experts believe the new office could help improve intelligence sharing, strengthen operational coordination, and support faster responses to national security threats.

The appointment has also generated widespread public attention, with many Nigerians seeking to understand the responsibilities of the new office and how it will work alongside the existing Office of the National Security Adviser.

Although the Federal Government has not fully explained the distinction between both offices, officials say the Homeland Security Adviser role is expected to focus specifically on internal security coordination and proactive domestic threat management.