NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM STRATEGY
Strategy · Security
Policy date: 2024-01-01
A Strategy establishes a comprehensive framework for preventing and responding to terrorism through coordinated government and societal efforts. It targets security agencies and communities to enhance intelligence sharing and reduce radicalization. This aims to build national resilience against threats.
What Is This Policy?
The National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) is Nigeria’s whole-of-government and whole-of-society framework for preventing, detecting, responding to, and recovering from terrorism.
Who Does It Target?
The strategy is directed at security agencies (military, police, intelligence, immigration), ensuring coordinated action against terrorism. It also targets government institutions and policymakers, providing them with a unified framework.
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
The strategy aims to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to prevent and respond to terrorism by improving interagency coordination, intelligence sharing, and community engagement. It seeks to reduce radicalization and recruitment, enhance crisis response, and build resilience in communities.
Key Features
Interagency Coordination: Stronger collaboration among security agencies. Community Engagement: Citizens involved in prevention and resilience. Intelligence-Driven Operations: Improved detection and disruption of terrorist networks. Capacity Building: Training and equipping security forces. International Cooperation: Partnerships with UNODC, AU, and ECOWAS.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: active Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Security agencies, policymakers, and communities in conflict zones Funding: Federal Government allocations
How to Access
• National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC): https://nctc.gov.ng • Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA): https://onsa.gov.ng • National Assembly Portal: https://nass.gov.ng
Important Terms
Term 1-Whole-of-Government Approach This means that all government institutions, military, police, intelligence, immigration, judiciary, and ministries coordinate under a single framework to fight terrorism. Instead of fragmented responses, agencies share intelligence, resources, and responsibilities to ensure a unified national effort Term 2- Whole-of-Society Approach Counter-terrorism is not only the job of government agencies. This approach emphasizes the role of citizens, communities, civil society, religious leaders, and the private sector in preventing radicalization, reporting suspicious activities, and building resilience. It recognizes that terrorism thrives when communities are isolated, so inclusion and cooperation are key.
Official Resources
• National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Website: https://nctc.gov.ng 📍 Address: Office of the National Security Adviser, Three Arms Zone, Abuja 📞 Phone: +234 (0) 9 234 0770 ✉️ Email: [email protected] • Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Website: https://onsa.gov.ng Link to document- https://nctc.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NACTEST-2016.pdf
Legal Framework
The National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) operates under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the National Security Agencies Act 1986 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. It aligns with the 1999 Constitution (Section 14(2)(b) — security as primary purpose of government), UN Security Council Resolutions 1373, 2178, and 2396, the African Union's Counter-Terrorism framework, and the ECOWAS Political Declaration and Common Position against Terrorism.