Name of the Nigerias National Security Advisors from 1990

Name of the Nigerias National Security Advisors from 1990 – date

1- Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta served from January 1990 to 2 January 1993 under President Ibrahim Babangida. He was the first civilian to hold the NSA office. At the time the position was new and its scope still being defined, so his time helped set the foundation for how the office would function under future administrations.

2- Aliyu Mohammed Gusau first held the post from 2 January 1993 to 30 August 1993. He subsequently became the first full-time military NSA under that early change in government.

3- Ismaila Gwarzo served as NSA from 30 August 1993 to 9 June 1998 under interim President Ernest Shonekan and then under General Sani Abacha. His tenure is controversial. While he oversaw domestic security under a repressive regime, reports allege that during his time the office was used to fund pro-government propaganda and that some “fake security projects” facilitated large-scale diversion of funds

Abdullahi Mohammed held the office from 9 June 1998 to 29 May 1999 under General Abdulsalami Abubakar. He oversaw the transition phase as Nigeria prepared to return to civilian rule, a delicate period requiring stability and careful handling of security institutions.

5- Aliyu Mohammed Gusau returned as NSA from 29 May 1999 to 1 June 2006 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. During this long stretch, he strengthened the importance of the NSA office. He became central to coordinating intelligence and security services for the fledgling democratic government, helping to institutionalize the role of NSA as a key link between the presidency and security agencies.

6- Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar served between 1 June 2006 and 8 March 2010. He served across the tail end of Obasanjo’s presidency and into that of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. A retired major general with a background in military governance and peace-keeping, he brought to the office his experience as a high-ranking military officer — at a time when internal and external security threats demanded coordination of military and intelligence capacities.

7- Aliyu Mohammed Gusau had a third stint as NSA from 8 March 2010 to 18 September 2010 under President Goodluck Jonathan. His reappointment, even if brief, underscored his perceived reliability and institutional knowledge; continuity likely mattered to Jonathan as he settled in and faced mounting security challenges.

8- Kayode Are (acting) briefly held the office from 18 September 2010 to 4 October 2010 under Jonathan. His acting role ensured that there was no vacuum between Gusau’s departure and the appointment of a new NSA.

9- Owoye Andrew Azazi served from 4 October 2010 to 22 June 2012 under Goodluck Jonathan. As a retired army general with extensive background in military intelligence and strategic studies, his tenure focused on reforming intelligence coordination and response mechanisms. During his time, he engaged in shaping Nigeria’s counterterrorism and security strategy, particularly as threats from groups such as Boko Haram and militant groups in the Niger Delta region intensified.

– Sambo Dasuki held office from 22 June 2012 to 13 July 2015 under Goodluck Jonathan. His term ended when the administration changed. Unfortunately, his tenure is widely associated with controversy over alleged mis-management and mis-appropriation. An investigative report into arms procurement purported that nearly US$2 billion was disbursed under his watch for counter-insurgency efforts but was not properly accounted for, a scandal which greatly tainted his legacy.

11- Babagana Monguno served a relatively long period from 13 July 2015 to 26 June 2023 under Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu. As NSA, he navigated an era marked by complex security challenges insurgency, banditry, communal conflicts, and evolving terrorist threats, and worked to sustain coordination across the intelligence agencies and the military. His near-eight-year service speaks to continuity in an otherwise turbulent security environment.

12- Nuhu Ribadu has been serving since 26 June 2023 under President Bola Tinubu. He is the first NSA from a non-military and non-army background in decades, bringing his experience as a former top police officer and ex-head of the anti-corruption agency Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the role. His appointment signals a shift toward integrating law enforcement and intelligence-led crime prevention. Early in his appointment, observers credit him for re-engineering Nigeria’s security architecture, improving coordination of intelligence and operations, and reinvigorating efforts against terrorism, banditry, and organized crime.

In your own opinion who among these NSAs served the country the best during his time in office?
@top fans