By Bavoriat Clara
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser, has launched the Grey Child Foundation Programme on Community Violence Reduction (CVRP) 2025, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the root causes of violence, strengthening community resilience, and fostering sustainable peace across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
The event, held at the NCTC Headquarters in Abuja, brought together ambassadors, international development partners, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, members of the press, the private sector, civil society organisations, and other distinguished guests in a united show of commitment to tackling insecurity.
Declaring the programme open on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mni, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, said the launch comes at a critical time when Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, insurgency, banditry, violent extremism, and other threats that endanger lives, disrupt livelihoods, and undermine national development.
He noted that in the past, the responsibility for addressing these threats rested almost entirely with the government and security agencies, but a more collective approach is now taking root with civil society organisations, community groups, the private sector, international partners, and other stakeholders increasingly joining hands to confront them, expanding the range of interventions and strengthening capacity to address the root causes of violence.
Major General Laka explained that the Community Violence Reduction Programme is designed to strengthen communities, promote resilience, and prevent the conditions that breed violence.
The partnership between the NCTC and Grey Child Foundation was formalised on June 18, 2025, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, reflecting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach through the mobilisation and collaboration of key stakeholders to address the full spectrum of violence and social restiveness.
The NCTC National Coordinator commended the Grey Child Foundation for its consistent belief in community-driven solutions, noting that the programme will also promote accurate and positive narratives, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and generate data to guide evidence-based decision-making.
He stressed that at the NCTC, kinetic actions provide only temporary results, and the more sustainable path lies in non-kinetic measures that address the root drivers of violence and create opportunities for peaceful coexistence.
He further reaffirmed the Centre’s resolve to deploy every resource, expertise, and partnership at its disposal to make Nigeria safer and more secure through diverse and targeted community-based activities, calling on government institutions, civil society, the private sector, the media, and international partners to join in the mission.
In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu reaffirmed the Forum’s support for policies aimed at addressing violent crimes, militancy, terrorism, ethno-religious intolerance, and other community-based crimes with national security implications.
He noted that the current spike in insecurity across all six geo-political zones underscores the need for a whole-of-society approach and explained that the NGF has been proactive in complementing federal government efforts through initiatives such as providing logistics support to federal security agencies operating in various states, supporting the federal government’s community-based policing initiative, and establishing a Security Department at the NGF Secretariat along with the appointment of a Senior Security Adviser for strategic engagement with stakeholders including the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Dr. Shittu highlighted the NGF’s establishment of a Community of Practice on Security in 2024, a platform for states to share experiences, exchange expertise, and jointly address subnational security challenges.
This model builds on similar collaborative mechanisms in health, education, agriculture, energy, and gender affairs, convening regularly to co-develop practical solutions and strengthen state capacity to provide quality advisory services on non-kinetic approaches to security.
He expressed confidence that the launch of the Community Violence Reduction Programme will be a catalyst for reducing violence and conflict in communities, while fostering lasting peace and strengthening security across the nation.
Also delivering a goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, commended the NCTC for what she described as a laudable initiative that marks a significant step towards fostering peace, security, and resilience.
She stressed that mainstreaming gender perspectives into peace and security efforts is imperative, ensuring that women, men, girls, and boys are equally engaged in prevention, response, and recovery efforts to enhance the sustainability of counter-terrorism strategies.
The Minister underscored the role of the family as the first line of defence against violence and extremism, noting that equipping families with values, resources, and support systems can address vulnerabilities early and promote a culture of peace.
She said that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry is championing the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of terrorism through psychosocial support, livelihood empowerment, and community reintegration pathways that restore dignity and opportunity.
Ibrahim, also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, pointing to the country’s Third National Action Plan as a strategic framework for ensuring women’s full participation in peace and security processes.
In this regard, she highlighted the Security Sector Reference Group chaired by the Ministry as a key platform for multi-sectoral coordination between security agencies, civil society, and development partners to ensure that gender considerations are systematically integrated into security sector policies, strategies, and operations, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts and fostering community trust.
She concluded by appealing to all stakeholders government, security agencies, civil society, community leaders, and families to work together to build a Nigeria where peace, justice, and security are sustained by inclusive and gender-responsive approaches, breaking the cycle of violence, healing affected communities, and securing a safer future for generations to come.
The event closed with a resounding call for partnership and collective action among all stakeholders, reinforcing the belief that only through unified efforts can Nigeria build the peaceful and secure future its citizens deserve.