FG Unveils Revised 2025 Counter-Terrorism Strategy to Boost Coordination, Community Engagement
The Federal Government has introduced a revamped National Counter-Terrorism Strategy for 2025, placing stronger emphasis on interagency collaboration and grassroots participation in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during the final validation of the draft document, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, said the revised strategy reinforces Nigeria’s “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach to tackling evolving security threats.
According to Laka, the updated framework is designed to improve synergy among security agencies while deepening public involvement in preventing and responding to terrorist activities. “The review of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy represents a reaffirmation of our holistic approach to counter-terrorism. It emphasises prevention alongside response, strengthens coordination, and embeds resilience, inclusivity, and community engagement at the heart of our security architecture,” he stated.
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Laka explained that the review process began in February 2025 and involved a series of consultations, including workshops, committee assessments, and stakeholder engagements with ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, academics, and international partners. He said the validation workshop aimed to ensure the document was “clear, realistic, and implementable” while reflecting national priorities and meeting global standards.
The Director of Policy and Strategy at the NCTC, Commodore Ahmad Madawaki, said the strategy is anchored on the “whole-of-government” approach—which ensures counter-terrorism efforts are coordinated, comprehensive, and effective—and the “whole-of-society” approach, which actively engages communities, civil society, and the private sector in building trust, promoting social cohesion, and countering extremist ideologies.
Madawaki noted that the review incorporated global best practices, gender inclusivity, and human rights considerations, with technical input from UN Women and other stakeholders. He stressed that every ministry, department, and agency must fully understand its role once the strategy is launched, adding that grassroots involvement is crucial for its success.
“We recognise the importance of grassroots involvement, and the Centre will ensure that state and local governments are actively engaged, particularly in the final phases of implementation,” Madawaki said. He also called for sustained international cooperation, emphasising that terrorism is a global challenge requiring cross-border collaboration.
The revised strategy will now undergo editing and publication before its official rollout.
By PRNigeria
