By Bavoriat Clara
Nigeria has reiterated its unwavering commitment to promoting peace, stability, and collective security across the African continent.
This reaffirmation came during a Capacity Building Workshop and Preparatory Meeting for the Retreat of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Committee of Experts of the African Union (AU), hosted by the National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in Abuja on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mni, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, described the event as both a privilege and a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to continental peace and collective security under the framework of the African Union.
He noted that Africa continues to face evolving and complex security challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, and governance-related instability, which have become increasingly interconnected across West Africa and the Sahel region.
According to him, these threats require innovative, coordinated, and sustainable responses, stressing that “no country can overcome these challenges in isolation.” He added that Nigeria remains committed to fostering regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and capacity building as essential pillars of Africa’s collective security.
General Laka highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2025 between the NCTC and the African Union Commission on Strengthening Counterterrorism Initiatives in West Africa and the Sahel Region. He described the MoU as a significant milestone that provides a practical framework for collaboration in information sharing, technical assistance, and capacity development — all aligned with the AU’s Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to supporting the AU’s peace and security initiatives. He noted that Nigeria’s sustained investments in counterterrorism coordination, regional partnerships, and community-based approaches continue to advance the AU’s vision of a peaceful and secure continent as captured in Agenda 2063 and the Silencing the Guns initiative.
General Laka added that the workshop serves as a platform for experts to strengthen institutional capacities, review progress, and harmonize technical perspectives ahead of the forthcoming AU PSC Retreat. He expressed optimism that the meeting would yield practical strategies to guide the Council’s policy direction on emerging peace and security issues in Africa.
In their separate remarks, the Chairperson of the PSC Committee of Experts, Dr. Jean Djeunkeng, and the Head of the PSC Secretariat, Neema Chusi, commended Nigeria’s leadership and the NCTC’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
They also praised the MoU signed between the NCTC and the African Union Commission, expressing confidence that the outcomes of the 17th PSC Retreat on the Review of the Council’s Working Methods and Lessons Learned Forum would deepen understanding of Africa’s conflict dynamics and strengthen collaborative efforts toward sustainable peace and development on the continent.
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