Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has announced that following the completion of its review of the National Counter Terrorism strategy (NACTEST), the Federal Government will, in October, unveil the revised National CounterTerrorism Strategy.
This was stated by the Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, on Tuesday in Abuja during the validation meeting of the revised NACTEST with security chiefs, policymakers, academics and development partners.
The meeting, which brought together representatives of military services, security agencies, scholars, and international partners.
Maj. Gen. Laka explained that the revised strategy was necessitated by the evolving dynamics of terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria and across West Africa. He said the review took into account lessons learned over the years, emerging threats such as cyber terrorism, and the growing need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
“This document will provide a roadmap for all ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as civil society, in combating terrorism. It is not enough to have a paper strategy; we must translate it into measurable action. That is why the President will officially launch it in October to signal full-scale implementation,” Laka said.
He stressed that the revised framework adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, designed to ensure inclusivity, resilience, and adaptability to Nigeria’s complex security environment.
Also speaking, the Director of Policy and Strategy at the NCTC, Commodore Ahmad Madawaki, described the review process as consultative and in line with international best practices.
“The new framework reflects not only the government’s commitment but also the voices of stakeholders across the security, academic, and civil society spectrum,” Madawaki noted.
The NCTC, domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is mandated to coordinate Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.
Recall that the National Counter Terrorism Strategy, first introduced in 2014 and revised in 2016, serves as Nigeria’s blueprint for preventing and countering terrorism. The latest review expands its scope to address new realities such as cyber terrorism, radicalisation through online platforms, financing of terrorism, and cross-border insurgency.
Speaking further, Commodore Madawaki said the revised framework is built on five core streams—Forestall, Secure, Identify, Prepare, and Implement. It outlines preventive measures, intelligence coordination, law enforcement roles, crisis response, as well as post-conflict stabilisation and rehabilitation of affected communities.
He noted that the document clearly defines responsibilities for each ministry, department, and agency (MDA), ensuring accountability and improved inter-agency coordination.
The framework also highlights the importance of partnering with traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, and civil society groups to counter extremist propaganda while promoting education and economic empowerment as key tools of prevention.
In addition, the document incorporates a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to track implementation progress, with periodic reporting to the Office of the National Security Adviser. This, according to Madawaki, is expected to strengthen transparency and allow stakeholders to measure impact effectively.
He added that the revised strategy draws on lessons learned from past operations and the contributions of both local and international partners, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s preparedness against future security threats.
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