Improved national stability again took center stage as the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, recently rallied key stakeholders to curate measures capable of effectively tackling emerging complex threats to national security in line with Federal Government’s strong stance on the safety of all Nigerians.
At a second National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) stakeholders’ meeting was recently convened by ONSA-NCTC in Abuja for an enlarged public sector, civil society groups andthe international community, the Federal Government reaffirmed the need for measures geared towards strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism architecture through coordinated and inclusive approaches.
NSA Nuhu Ribadu, in a keynote address delivered by NCTC’s Coordinator, Major General Adamu Laka emphasized that unity, cooperation and inclusiveness were essential in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the country while
also expressing appreciation for stakeholders’ commitment to Nigeria’s counterterrorism mission especially in the onerous task of reviewing the NACTEST document.
“Today’s meeting is at a pivotal juncture in our efforts to review the National Counter Terrorism Strategy. The threat landscape continues to evolve in complexity and scale. Our responses, therefore, must be equally adaptive, collaborative, and forward-looking,” he said.
The revised strategy, he noted, was anchored on both foundational pillars of Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approaches.
The Whole-of-Government approach, he explained, involved seamless inter-agency coordination with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) expected aimed at scaling up intelligence sharing and leveraging their collective expertise.
“It is only through this kind of unity that we can effectively identify vulnerabilities, disrupt terrorist networks, and prevent attacks before they occur,” he stated.
On the other hand, he said, Whole-of-Society approach viewed terrorism as a security issue and as a social and ideological challenge that required robust grassroots engagement.
The NCTC Coordinator stressed the importance of involving communities, civil society organizations, religious and traditional leaders as well as the private sector to build trust, strengthen cohesion, and counter extremist ideologies.
He disclosed that the first draft of the revised National Counter Terrorism Strategy was already completed, describing it as a significant milestone accomplished by the concerted efforts of all stakeholders.
“I urge all stakeholders represented here to carefully review the draft strategy, provide constructive feedback, and take responsibility for implementing the recommendations within your mandates,” he said.
The meeting was a follow-up to the inaugural session held on February 25, 2025 which stakeholders agreed came at a time the nation continued to face fast-changing a dynamic array of security threats, including insurgency, banditry, and emerging forms of radicalisation.
Reiterating FG’s unwavering commitment to national security, the National Coordinator assured participants that the NCTC remained dedicated to coordinating and supporting Nigeria’s multi-stakeholder counter-terrorism efforts.
He thanked participants for their continued partnership and urged them to remain resolute in their shared mission to protect Nigeria from terrorism and violent extremism.
“Let us work together in service to this noble cause,” he said.
Relatedly, the NSA Nuhu Ribadu has called for greater bond among stakeholders globally to consolidate on succeesses so far as well as counter the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by terrorist groups in West Africa at the NCTC within the precincts of the ONSA) in Abuja.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office (SSO), Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, Ribadu said,
“I’m honoured to stand before you at the Regional Meeting on Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (CIEDs} as we come together to address the pressing need of preventing and countering the acquisition and use of IEDs by terrorist groups in West Africa here at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our partners, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), West Afnca Capacity Building Working Group, the International Institute of Justice (IIJ), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for the collaboration in organising this important meeting. Your dedication to strengthening our collective efforts in combating terrorism is highly commendable.
“This regional meeting serves as a platform for us to share knowledge, best practices, and experiences in addressing the threat of CIEDs.
“By bringing together representatives from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Nigeria, as well as experts from the West African Region, GCTF Member States, and other relevant stakeholders, we aim to develop effective mechanisms to enhance our ability to prevent and counter the use of IEDs.
“The discussions and recommendations that will emerge from this meeting are vital in shaping our strategies and initiatives to safeguard our communities and protect our citizens.
“The threat of terrorism knows no borders, and it is only through collaborative efforts such as this that we can effectively confront and defeat this menace,” urging active participation of all towards finding solutions that would strengthen our counterterrorism capabilities in West Africa.
Also speaking, the Envoy of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued (who spoke in French), commended Nigeria, the organisers in particular, for organisingthe event.
He gave the assurance of his country’s readiness to stand by Nigeria and the rest of sister African countries in the fight against terrorism to achieve lasting security and peace for the citizens.
In similar vein, the envoy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Annette Gunther, expressing regret that the region was increasingly being targeted by expanding terrorist operations particularly those weaponising IEDs said, “In recent times, we have witnessed a notable increase in high-impact attacks, particularly involving IEDs”.
He noted that technological advancements had threatened the impressive progress by many countries in restoring stability, including Nigeria, particularly in the case of the three northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
“Against this worrisome backdrop, we consider the capacity-building efforts of the West Africa Capacity Building Working Group and our West African partners more relevant than ever.
“The agenda of this meeting builds, among others, on the Working Group’s regional meeting of 2023, which emphasisedthe need to strengthen national and regional counter-IED expertise, disrupt the supply chains of IED components, and turn intelligence into the core of the scientific evidence.
“These insights resulted in the formulation of the LumeRecommendations. Since their initial formulation, these recommendations have been increasingly refined through important inputs from West African partners, as well as through consultations with regional and international counter-IED experts.
“This way, the Lume Recommendations have evolved into a best-practice document, tailor-made to address the specific challenges of the West Africa region related to the use of weapons such as the proliferation of IEDs’’, Ambassador Gunther said.
