At a
high-level validation workshop in Abuja, Nigerian authorities and international
partners gathered to finalise the revised National Counter-Terrorism
Strategy (NACTEST) 2025, reaffirming a united front against evolving
security threats.
Zig Diaries
Defence
Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Time: 14:00 WAT
Location: 📍Abuja, Nigeria
In a
significant step toward strengthening national security frameworks, the National
Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security
Adviser (ONSA), convened stakeholders from across government, civil society,
and the diplomatic community for the final validation of Nigeria’s updated
counter-terrorism strategy.
Delivering
the keynote on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Major General Adamu
Laka, Coordinator of the NCTC, hailed the document as a product of deep
consultation and rigorous review.
“This
validation exercise is not simply about reviewing a document. It is about
endorsing a shared vision that will guide our counter-terrorism efforts through
the next review cycle,” he said.
General Laka
recalled the multi-phase review process, beginning with the first stakeholders'
meeting on 25 February 2025, followed by committee engagements in May,
an intensive two-day workshop in July, and an internal council review that
concluded on 1 August 2025. These stages, he noted, demonstrate
Nigeria’s commitment to a whole-of-society approach.
“The
strategy embeds resilience, inclusivity, and community engagement at the core
of our security architecture,” he emphasized.
Representing
the NCTC’s strategic arm, Director of Policy and Strategy, Commodore Ahmad
Madawaki, reinforced the dual pillars underpinning the strategy—whole-of-government
and whole-of-society.
“This strategy
ensures ministries, departments, and agencies understand their roles in
implementation, while also engaging civil society, traditional leaders, and the
private sector,” Madawaki stated.
He further
highlighted the incorporation of gender inclusivity, human rights, and
strategic communication as key improvements, along with the integration of
feedback from UN agencies and international best practices.
The
validation exercise also emphasized legal alignment with national and
international counterterrorism legislation, as well as positioning the revised
strategy within the broader geopolitical context of the Sahel and global
security trends.
Earlier, Zig
Diaries learned that the revised NACTEST draws from lessons learned since the
2016 edition, with new emphasis on emerging threats, terrorist adaptation
tactics, and inter-agency coordination.
“Terrorism
is a global phenomenon that requires global collaboration. This document
reflects that understanding,” Commodore Madawaki affirmed.
The session
witnessed active participation from UN and EU representatives, the diplomatic
corps, local government associations, and civil society leaders—all united in
their call for a strategy that is not only effective but also inclusive and
implementable.
“The impact
of the work that you do here today will resonate beyond this room,” Madawaki
concluded.
Fact-check & Background Context
- National Counter Terrorism
Centre (NCTC):
Established under the Office of the National Security Adviser, the NCTC
coordinates Nigeria’s counterterrorism policies, strategies, and
operations. It serves as the central agency for integrating efforts across
ministries, agencies, and international partners.
- NACTEST 2025: This is the latest iteration
of Nigeria’s National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, originally introduced in
2016 to address rising threats from extremist groups such as Boko Haram,
ISWAP, and other violent extremist organizations operating within Nigeria
and the wider Sahel region.
- Whole-of-Government and
Whole-of-Society Approaches: These pillars represent inclusive security strategies
engaging not only government agencies but also communities, civil society,
religious and traditional leaders, and the private sector to build trust,
resilience, and effective responses.
- International Cooperation: Nigeria collaborates closely
with multilateral partners including the United Nations, European Union,
and regional bodies to exchange intelligence, technical assistance, and
best practices against terrorism.
- Evolving Threat Landscape: The security environment in
Nigeria is dynamic, with terrorist groups adapting tactics and expanding
influence. The revised strategy incorporates lessons learned from past
operations and emerging trends, aiming to enhance prevention,
counter-radicalization, deradicalization, and reintegration efforts.
- Legal & Human Rights
Alignment:
The updated strategy emphasizes compliance with Nigeria’s national laws
and international legal standards, incorporating gender inclusivity and
human rights considerations to ensure sustainable peacebuilding.
🏷️Tags: National Security Adviser, National Counter
Terrorism Strategy, NACTEST, NCTC, Strategic Communication, Counterterrorism,
Whole-of-Society
#NigeriaSecurity #NACTEST2025 #CounterterrorismStrategy #PeaceThroughSecurity
#InclusiveSecurity #AbujaSecurityDialogue
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