The Federal Government has outlined fresh measures to boost interagency coordination and deepen community participation as part of the revised National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025.
National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the final validation workshop for the draft document.
He said the updated framework reinforces a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach to combating terrorism, stressing that prevention, public resilience, inclusivity, and stronger collaboration among security agencies remain central to the plan.
“The review represents a reaffirmation of our collective commitment. It emphasises prevention alongside response, strengthens interagency coordination, and embeds community engagement at the heart of our security architecture,” he said.
Laka explained that the review, which started in February 2025, involved extensive consultations through workshops, committee sittings, and stakeholder engagements with ministries, departments and agencies, civil society groups, academics, and international partners.
He noted that the validation exercise was aimed at ensuring the strategy is “clear, realistic, and implementable” while reflecting national priorities and meeting global standards.
Also speaking, Director of Policy and Strategy at the NCTC, Commodore Ahmad Madawaki, said the blueprint is anchored on the “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” pillars.
While the first ensures coordinated and effective action among security and government agencies, the second, he said, brings communities, civil society, and the private sector into efforts to build trust, foster social cohesion, and counter extremist narratives.
He added that the revised document incorporates gender inclusivity, human rights principles, and global good practices, with technical input from UN Women and other stakeholders.
Madawaki urged ministries, departments, and agencies to fully understand their roles once the plan is launched, emphasising that grassroots involvement is crucial.
“We will ensure state and local governments are actively engaged in the implementation process, especially in the final phases,” he said.
He called for sustained international collaboration, noting that terrorism remains a global challenge requiring cross-border cooperation.