Abuja: The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre – Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, emphasized the importance of communities and other stakeholders in countering terrorism threats. This statement was made during the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) stakeholders meeting in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Laka highlighted that the meeting occurred at a crucial point in the review of NACTEST, as the complexity and scale of terrorism threats continue to evolve. He noted that responses to these threats must be adaptive, collaborative, and forward-looking, anchored on the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The whole-of-government approach, he explained, emphasizes the need for seamless interagency coordination. He praised the Ministry of Education for its comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism in the recent crisis.
Laka further explained that terrorism is not just a security threat but also a social and ideological one. Therefore, countering it requires active involvement from communities, civil society organizations, religious and traditional leaders, and the private sector. The goal is to build trust, strengthen social cohesion, and actively counter extremist narratives at the grassroots level.
He revealed that the initial draft of the revised NACTEST has been developed and urged participants to review it carefully, provide constructive feedback, and take responsibility for implementing recommendations within their mandate. The aim is to ensure that the strategy’s implementation serves as a dynamic framework driving real and measurable impacts in counterterrorism efforts.
Commodore Ahmad Madawaki, Director of Policy and Strategy at NCTC-ONSA, reiterated that NACTEST has been a critical framework for counter-terrorism since 2014. He noted that as the threat landscape evolved, a review was necessary to maintain the strategy’s effectiveness and relevance. Extensive consultations were conducted with stakeholders, including international partners, to support this review. These interactions enriched the understanding of emerging trends and innovative approaches to countering terrorism.