By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government has finalized its updated National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) 2025, with a renewed focus on strengthening coordination among security agencies and deepening community involvement in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the final validation session for the revised document, Major General Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), said the framework reaffirms Nigeria’s “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach to countering threats.
He explained that the strategy balances prevention with response, placing resilience, inclusivity, and community engagement at the core of the country’s security architecture. The review process, which began in February 2025, involved consultations with ministries, agencies, civil society groups, academia, and international partners.
“Our aim is to ensure this strategy is clear, realistic, and implementable, reflecting both national priorities and global standards,” Laka said, adding that the document will undergo final editing before its official release.
Director of Policy and Strategy at the NCTC, Commodore Ahmad Madawaki, said the revised plan embeds gender inclusivity, human rights principles, and good practices, with input from UN Women and other stakeholders. He stressed that all ministries and agencies must fully understand their roles in its implementation, while grassroots engagement remains a priority.
“Terrorism is a global phenomenon that requires both local action and international cooperation,” Madawaki noted, calling for sustained global support.
