By Bavoriat Clara
The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC–ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has affirmed that the draft National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025 places equal emphasis on prevention and response, enhances inter-agency coordination, and embeds resilience, inclusivity, and community engagement at the heart of Nigeria’s security framework.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the final validation exercise of the draft NACTEST 2025, General Laka said the strategy is the product of several months of rigorous review, underscoring the seriousness with which Nigeria’s defence and security stakeholders approach the fight against terrorism.
He urged international partners to share insights to ensure the strategy aligns with global best practices, particularly in areas such as counter-narratives and strategic communications that are often underemphasised. According to him, the validation workshop is not merely about approving a policy document but endorsing a shared vision that will shape Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts until the next review cycle.
“This stage is critical for confirming that the strategy reflects national priorities while meeting the highest international standards,” he said. “The process was deliberately inclusive, involving multiple stages of review and broad consultations so that all stakeholders can take ownership and commit fully to implementation. I encourage all participants to engage actively, identify any gaps, and suggest refinements that will enrich the document before its final editing and publication.”
General Laka explained that the validation workshop’s purpose is to subject the reviewed draft to collective scrutiny, ensuring that every section is clear, realistic, implementable, and addresses evolving threats.
Giving a timeline of the review process, he recalled that it began on 25 February 2025 with the first stakeholder meeting, followed by intensive Review Committee sessions from 12–16 May 2025, which brought together expertise from multiple sectors. A two-day workshop from 1–2 July 2025 then critically examined and refined the draft, which was further strengthened through a consultant-led in-depth review from 28 July–1 August 2025.
Director of Policy and Strategy at NCTC, Commodore Ahmed Abubakar Madawaki, also highlighted that the collaborative review process has produced a comprehensive and responsive strategy tailored to Nigeria’s security realities. He said the Centre’s objective is to ensure a deep understanding of the strategy among civil society organisations, the private sector, academia, and traditional and religious leaders, while ensuring grassroots engagement through active involvement of state and local governments.
He emphasised that terrorism is a global challenge requiring sustained international cooperation and support, adding that the NACTEST 2025 is designed to reflect both Nigeria’s domestic security priorities and its commitment to global counterterrorism efforts.
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