Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser, has received official accreditation from the African Union as a Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism, a milestone that bolsters the nation’s leadership in tackling terrorism and violent extremism across the Sahel and West Africa.
The accreditation will enable the Centre to provide greater support to African Union member states through intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis, specialised training, research, technical assistance and operational coordination.
The development also fulfils President Bola Tinubu’s vision, declared at the High-Level African Counter Terrorism Meeting in April 2024, to strengthen Nigeria’s contribution to continental security.
The Acting Director of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali, said the accreditation followed a rigorous assessment of the NCTC’s institutional capacity, governance, training programmes, analytical capabilities and coordination mechanisms.
He said the assessment also considered the Centre’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
The accreditation process began with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in September 2025, followed by a technical assessment in December of the same year.
The recognition is initially valid for three years and is renewable.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the NCTC National Coordinator, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, described the accreditation as an endorsement of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and a call for greater responsibility in strengthening security across Africa.
The designation is expected to enhance regional cooperation and collective responses to cross-border security threats, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel, where terrorism and violent extremism remain major security concerns.
What You Should Know
The African Union has officially recognized Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts by designating its National Counter Terrorism Centre as a Regional Centre of Excellence, validating the country’s institutional strength, commitment to human rights, and operational capabilities.
- Positive Impact: The recognition enhances regional cooperation, improves intelligence sharing, and brings specialized training and technical support to combat cross-border security threats across West Africa.
- Potential Concerns: Maintaining this prestigious status requires continuous compliance with strict governance and human rights standards while managing escalating security pressures in the Sahel region.
