Nigeria’s nationwide safety adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has known as for stronger international and regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and the accountable use of rising applied sciences to fight terrorism and violent extremism in Africa.
He made the decision yesterday in Abuja on the opening of the High-Level African Lessons Learned Forum on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, Intelligence Sharing and Emerging Technologies.
Ribadu stated terrorist teams have been exploiting porous borders, native grievances, illicit monetary networks, digital platforms and on-line radicalisation to increase their operations throughout the continent.
According to him, the evolving risk requires stronger intelligence coordination, sustained partnerships, and sensible cooperation amongst African international locations and their worldwide companions.
“Terrorist groups are exploiting porous borders, local grievances, illicit financial networks, digital platforms, misinformation, online radicalisation and emerging technologies,” he stated.
Ribadu stated Nigeria’s expertise over the previous 15 years had proven that navy operations alone couldn’t present a sustainable answer to terrorism.
He stated Nigeria had continued to pursue a whole-of-government and whole-of-society strategy to counter-terrorism and the prevention and countering of violent extremism.
“While security operations remain necessary, they must be complemented by intelligence coordination, law enforcement, financial intelligence, justice, strategic communications, prevention, rehabilitation, reintegration, reconciliation, community resilience, education, youth engagement, research, training and technology-enabled analysis,” he stated.
The NSA stated the discussion board adopted the Senior Officials Dialogue on Counter-Terrorism in Africa, held in Madrid in May 2026, which emphasised real-time intelligence sharing, improved coordination, and the trade of sensible experiences.
He stated African international locations should take the lead in growing options to the continent’s safety challenges whereas strengthening cooperation with worldwide companions.
“Our partners remain important, and we value their continued support. However, sustainable solutions must be rooted in African ownership, African priorities, African institutions and the lived experiences of our communities,” he stated.
Ribadu harassed that no nation may successfully sort out transnational terrorist networks in isolation, given their means to function throughout borders, talk by digital platforms, and finance their actions by worldwide channels.
He additionally highlighted the rising affect of synthetic intelligence, encrypted platforms, drones, and artificial media on the safety panorama.
According to him, whereas terrorist teams could exploit such applied sciences, in addition they provide alternatives for early warning, risk evaluation, digital investigations, border safety, and the safety of susceptible communities.
“Our task is to ensure that technology is used responsibly, lawfully and effectively in support of peace and security,” he stated.
Ribadu described the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), beneath the Office of the National Security Adviser, as an essential element of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism coordination structure.
He stated the centre had strengthened its capability in strategic risk evaluation, intelligence fusion, analysis, coaching, coverage coordination, and technology-enabled evaluation.
The NSA stated Nigeria would proceed to share classes from initiatives corresponding to Operation Safe Corridor and the European Union-supported disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme for individuals previously related to non-state armed teams within the North-East.
He, nevertheless, cautioned towards presenting Nigeria’s expertise as an ideal mannequin, saying international locations may be taught from each other’s successes and setbacks.
“These experiences are not presented as perfect models. Rather, they are offered as practical lessons from which we can all learn,” he stated.
Ribadu urged members to give attention to sensible outcomes, together with stronger institutional cooperation, skilled networks, coaching alternatives, and technical partnerships.
He additionally known as for better consideration to the human dimension of counter-terrorism, stressing the necessity to shield communities, uphold human rights, assist victims, and tackle the circumstances that gasoline violent extremism.
“Security is not only the absence of violence; it is also the presence of justice, opportunity, dignity and trust between citizens and the state,” he stated.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to working with African international locations, the African Union, regional financial communities, the United Nations, the European Union, and different companions to strengthen collective safety.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, stated the discussion board was designed to assist African international locations evaluate experiences, determine efficient methods, and strengthen cooperation towards terrorism.
Laka stated terrorist teams have been more and more exploiting know-how, illicit monetary flows, corruption, and felony networks to advance their actions.
He harassed that navy motion should be complemented by prevention, rehabilitation, reintegration, felony justice, and neighborhood resilience.
According to him, Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts had additionally emphasised intelligence sharing, strategic communication, early-warning mechanisms, and collaboration with native communities.
Laka stated greater than 1,200 convictions had been secured in terrorism-related instances by improved coordination amongst related businesses.
He acknowledged the assist of the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and MTN Nigeria in convening the discussion board.
The two-day discussion board is predicted to look at rising terrorist threats, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism financing, on-line radicalisation, technology-enabled prevention, and rehabilitation and reintegration approaches.
It can be anticipated to strengthen African-led cooperation and develop sensible suggestions for addressing terrorism and violent extremism throughout the continent.
Also talking, Dr. Lakhdar Idriss, Director of AUCTC, known as for stronger cooperation amongst African international locations to deal with the rising risk of terrorism.
Idriss harassed the significance of sharing intelligence, exchanging operational experiences, and constructing belief amongst safety professionals to enhance collective responses to terrorist threats.
He additionally emphasised the necessity to be taught from each other’s counter-terrorism experiences and develop sensible options suited to Africa’s safety challenges.
He known as for approaches that prioritise justice for victims and be sure that classes realized from previous operations translate into simpler and coordinated motion towards terrorism.
The News Agency of Nigeria stories that the discussion board introduced collectively delegates from African Union member international locations and companions from different international locations.
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