NSA - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Apr, Fri, 2025

Counterterrorism: Nigeria adopts technology to secure Sahel region

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By Ogbaje Sumaila

Nigeria has adopted the Counter Terrorism Technology (CT-TECH+) initiative to enhance its capacity to secure the country and the Sahel region.

The Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, made this known at the official kick-off of the CT TECH+ initiative, organised in collaboration with UN Office for Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), on Thursday in Abuja.

The event was also in collaboration with Interpol and funded by the European Union.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CT TECH+ is a two-year joint initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of partner states, including Nigeria, to respond effectively to the growing threat of terrorism facilitated by new and emerging technologies.

Laka said that technology has ushered the world into a new era where global citizens now find themselves living in two interconnected realms, the physical world and the digital domain.

He said as innovation continues to evolve and new technologies emerge at an unprecedented pace, it converges vast opportunities and also complex, dynamic, and ever-changing risks.

He said that the digital age had opened a gateway for terrorists to exploit emerging technologies from artificial intelligence to autonomous technologies, encrypted communications, and blockchain-based financial tools, among others.

He said the initiative has provided access to radical content, recruitment platforms, illicit funding mechanisms, and the anonymity provided by cyberspace have also compounded the threats we face daily.

“More recently, we witnessed a disturbing trend where terrorists use commercial drones for surveillance over military deployments and even more concerning, these same drones have been weaponised to deliver explosive payloads.

“These are key areas I would urge this initiative to look into critically, as they reflect the rapidly evolving nature of terrorist tactics.

“In this context, the CT TECH+ initiative is not just timely but essential. It comes at a critical moment when we must outpace those who seek to destroy the very fabric of our societies.

“The only way to do this is through innovation, adaptation, and strategic foresight.

“At the NCTC, we firmly believe in proactive, collaborative, and tech-enabled responses to the evolving threat landscape.

“We are fully committed to initiatives such as CT TECH+ that align with our mandate not only to counterterrorism, but to prevent and address the root causes of violent extremism across Nigeria, West Africa, and the wider Sahel region.

“I am confident that CT TECH+ will elevate our capabilities and also bring us closer to the vision of a secure and resilient Nigeria, and the region in general,” he said.

Laka said that the initiative must not be allowed to become just another talk shop, saying that stakeholders must ensure that it translates into concrete outcomes that will attain the objectives of the initiative.

In his remarks, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot said:”terrorist threats are present on the five continents around the globe and they are taking new forms and shapes using new technologies.

“It is a constant, long-term fight which security agencies must always have to be one step ahead of the terrorists”.

According to him, security agencies have to be more clever, more internationally coordinated than the terrorists themselves who are also enhancing their coordination.

Mignot said the UN and its national organisations were committed to playing a pivotal role to support the CT-TECh+ initiative with a grant of 4.9 million euros.

This, according to him, is to contribute to global security by strengthening partner states’ law enforcement capacity to respond to the increasing use of new technologies for terrorist purposes while protecting human rights in a gender-responsive manner.

“We are very pleased to see Nigeria, among the few selected countries in Africa and in the world, the beneficiary of this initiative.

“I think it is a very right choice, as Nigeria is one of the most affected countries by the threats in Africa, but also one of the most capable to develop modern capabilities to prevent and fight terrorism,” he said.

Also, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Fall, commended the Federal Government for its unwavering commitment to strengthening national security while upholding the principles of international law.

Fall said that it was a time of rapid technological advancement as emerging technologies held transformative potential for development, civic engagement, and the promotion of human rights.

According to him, these same technologies are increasingly exploited by terrorists to spread fear, recruit, radicalise, finance their operations, and conduct attacks.

Fall said that Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Darknet, encrypted communication platforms, and virtual assets have become powerful tools in the hands of those who seek to destabilise societies.

He said that CT TECH+ would, over the next two years, work to review and assess Nigeria’s law enforcement capabilities to tackle technology-enabled terrorism.

According to him, it will build capacity through tailored national threat assessments and legal frameworks, reinforce interagency coordination and public-private partnerships.

“This is why the CT TECH+ initiative is not just a project, it is a platform for action, a commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s resilience to the digital threats of tomorrow while upholding the values that unite us,” he said.

NAN reports that the CT TECH was launched on Feb. 10, 2022 at a virtual event attended by over 150 officials from the Permanent Missions to the United Nations, Member States’ capitals, United Nations entities and regional organizations.

The goal of this two and a half year initiative is to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement and criminal justice authorities to counter the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and to leverage these technologies in the fight against terrorism.

CT TECH is funded by the European Union and implemented under the UNCCT Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Cybersecurity and New Technologies. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

We’ll chase out new terrorist group, Lakurawa- NSA

Ismail Abdulaziz
Nov, Thu, 2024

Defence/Security

We’ll chase out new terrorist group, Lakurawa- NSA

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By Mufutau Ojo

The President Bola Tinubu administration will flush out the new terrorist group, Lukarawa, from the country.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), said this at the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja.

The NSA, who represented the president at the event, said progress had been made in many sectors since the president was sworn in on May 29, 2023.

“We will chase the so-called Lukarawa out of our country. We’ll put critics to shame and shut their mouths in no time.

” Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our country, is now on the run.

” Its members are now moving to other neighbouring countries because Nigeria is no longer conducive for their operations,” he said.

He said signs that the economy was getting better was evident, citing increased crude oil production in the Niger Delta and the fiscal reforms by the CBN.

” Crude oil production has hit 1.8 million bpd and the Central Bank has been sanitised.

“No one is taking a dime from the CBN. When we promised that we’ll fix this country, we will do so because President Tinubu has never been a failure,” he said.

In his speech delivered by the NSA, Tinubu said he had set out with a clear and unwavering vision to strengthen Nigeria’s economic base.

He also said his promise to deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all remained unchanged after 18 months.

“In pursuing this vision, we have built upon existing foundations while introducing necessary reforms to adapt to our evolving economic realities.

” Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist,” he said.

Tinubu said his administration recognised that specific economic policies, though useful in their time, needed to be realigned with current global economic dynamics.

This, he added, was to better serve national interests and the well-being of the people.

The president commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for keying into his vision by strengthening the country’s position as a trade-friendly nation through strategic reforms.

According to the president, the theme of this year’s NCS conference, “NCS Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” could not have come at a better time.

The theme, he said, reflected his administration’s broader vision of fostering strategic partnerships and collaborative approaches to governance and economic management.

He said the NCS had shown remarkable progress in revenue generation, enhancing the government’s capacity to fund critical national development projects.

The president also said Nigeria would deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner.

“Our commitment to sustainable economic reforms, trade facilitation, and creating an enabling business environment is firm and irreversible,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Minister, NMA hail NSA, security forces over rescue of Kaduna doctor

isaac aregbesola
Nov, Fri, 2024

Defence/Security

Minister, NMA hail NSA, security forces over rescue of Kaduna doctor

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

Dr Tunji Alausa, former Minister of State for Health and Social Development, has commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), for rescuing Dr Ganiyat Popoola and her nephew.

Alausa also commended the military and other security agencies for the safe rescue of the kidnapped victims after 10 months in captivity.

Alausa, now Minister of Education, gave the commendation when the rescued victims got reunited with their family by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. on Friday in Abuja.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the safety and security of all citizens, as well as the NSA for facilitating the release of Dr Popoola without ransom.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu has invested so much resources in making the country safe.

“As we can see, security is significantly better all across the country but we are not there yet but it is going to continue to get better.

“I will also like to thank the entire armed forces for working so hard to secure the release of Dr. Popoola.

“More importantly, the NSA, who continuously reassures us that Dr. Popoola is alive in spite of being in captivity for about 10 months,” he said.

Alausa said that Popoola and her nephew have been released without any bad occurrences.

“This shows the skills of our armed forces, they did this without paying ransom and they secured the release of Popoola and her nephew.

“The country Nigeria is forever grateful to them,” he said.

The minister also thanked the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for their perseverance, trust in the government and persistence in ensuring the safe release of their colleague.

He urged all Nigerians to join hands with the security forces to fight insecurity in the country, adding that the challenges should be seen as Nigeria’s.

On his part, the President of NMA, Dr Bala Audu, described the rescue of Popoola along with her nephew as a miraculous outcome that all Nigerian doctors and indeed all Nigerians were happy with.

Audu acknowledged the specific efforts and persistence of all Nigerian doctors through NARD and the persistence of the Minister of Health in reaching out to the ONSA.

Also, the President of NARD, Dr Tope Osundare, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the support and concern for all the doctors all over the country.

Osundare said the collaborative efforts of the government agencies and institutions in synergy with NMA, ensured the release of Dr Popoola.

“We were emotionally traumatised as a body, we had our meetings, we had our protests and we had the reassurance.

“That is why our thanks go to the President and the NSA for all that they have done to ensure the release of Dr Poppola out of captivity.

“Today we are celebrating and we are happy that she is out of this captivity because I can imagine what she has gone through within that period of over 10 months.

“Today we want to appreciate God and appreciate everyone that has been involved,” he said.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had earlier in the day confirmed the rescue of Popoola and other victims through non-kinetic operations in a series of operations with other security agencies.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement, said that the details of their release had remained classified due to ongoing operations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Yakubu Uba