National Counter-IED Baseline Assessment Begins, Aligning Nigeria with Global Standards

 

Nigeria has commenced a structured national assessment aimed at strengthening its capacity to counter the growing threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as security institutions move toward developing a comprehensive national counter-IED strategy.

Desk: Defence & Security
Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Time: 14:00 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria

The process began at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja with the opening of a Counter-IED Baseline Assessment Workshop bringing together members of the Armed Forces, security and intelligence agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as international partners to examine Nigeria’s preparedness against the evolving explosive threat.

Opening the workshop, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Laka, said the engagement represents a follow-up to the Counter-IED Symposium held in March 2025 and marks a critical step in strengthening Nigeria’s national response architecture.

Gen. Laka explained that improvised explosive devices remain among the most dangerous threats confronting personnel engaged in counterterrorism operations, particularly in the North-East, where attacks have resulted in casualties while also disrupting agricultural activities, humanitarian access and economic recovery in affected communities.

He noted that the wider consequences of IED attacks extend beyond the conflict theatre, contributing to population displacement and undermining investor confidence in areas struggling to stabilise after years of insurgency.

According to him, the development of a National Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Strategy has therefore been identified as a priority under Nigeria’s national counterterrorism framework in order to strengthen policy coordination and operational responses across government institutions.

The NCTC coordinator said the current effort is guided by the Lomé Recommendations of the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum and seeks to build a coordinated national framework capable of addressing the evolving use of explosive devices by terrorist groups.

He added that the workshop would enable stakeholders to objectively assess Nigeria’s existing counter-IED capabilities, identify operational gaps and generate empirical data required to guide investments in human capacity, technology, legislation and institutional coordination.

Maj Gen. Laka also highlighted the significance of the workshop at a time when the NCTC is expanding its responsibilities following its designation as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.

The expanded role, he said, requires Nigeria not only to strengthen domestic capabilities but also to contribute to regional coordination, knowledge sharing and capacity-building efforts aimed at countering terrorism and emerging security threats across the region.

Also addressing participants, the Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Major General Shafaru Shamsideen, described the workshop as both strategic and necessary given the persistent and adaptive nature of improvised explosive devices in modern conflict environments.

Shamsideen noted that hostile groups across multiple operational theatres continue to rely on IEDs as a weapon of choice, making coordinated national responses essential to reducing their operational effectiveness.

He stressed that no single organisation can effectively confront the threat alone, emphasising that successful counter-IED operations require an intelligence-driven, capability-focused approach involving military, security, intelligence and civilian institutions.

According to him, the workshop provides an opportunity for stakeholders to review operational procedures, training frameworks, equipment levels and coordination mechanisms in order to strengthen collective preparedness.

The Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, he added, remains committed to supporting national counter-IED efforts through combat engineering expertise, technical innovation and operational support aimed at improving force protection and securing critical infrastructure.

Shamsideen urged participants to approach the discussions with openness and professionalism, stressing that practical recommendations emerging from the workshop could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s counter-IED architecture.

Officials say the baseline assessment exercise is expected to produce recommendations that will inform the development of a realistic and sustainable National Counter-IED Strategy designed to improve coordination across security institutions while strengthening Nigeria’s ability to prevent and respond to explosive threats.

🏷️ Tags: National Counter-IED Strategy, NCTC Nigeria, Nigerian Army Engineers, Counter Terrorism Policy, Nigeria Security Architecture

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