Nigeria is set to launch a revised National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025, following a high-level gathering of national and international stakeholders in Abuja.
The new strategy emphasizes counter-narratives, strategic communication, and community resilience, aligning with international human rights standards, gender inclusion, and UN guidelines on preventing and countering violent extremism.
Major General Adamu Laka, Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), urged participants to view the exercise as a shared commitment to national security, peacebuilding, and inclusive governance.
The revised framework is the result of a year-long process, involving multiple stages, including stakeholders’ meetings, technical committee sessions, and workshops.
The strategy adopts a dual approach, incorporating a whole-of-government model for interagency coordination and a whole-of-society model for including grassroots voices, civil society, faith leaders, and the private sector.
Key Features of the Revised Strategy:
- Counter-Narratives: Emphasizes the importance of narrative in combating extremist ideologies
- Strategic Communication: Aims to promote positive public engagement and counter extremist propaganda
- Community Resilience: Focuses on building community capacity to resist and respond to terrorist threats
- International Alignment: Harmonizes with global best practices, UN guidelines, and human rights standards
- Inclusive Approach: Incorporates voices from civil society, faith leaders, academia, traditional leaders, and the private sector
The new strategy is expected to be officially launched before the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, signaling a renewed approach to Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts amid evolving global and regional threats.
