Preventing And Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE)

Muhyideen Jimoh
Feb, Wed, 2025

Nigeria making significant strides in countering violent extremism – NCTC coordinator

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

Nigeria has made significant strides in implementing various aspects of the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) programmes and initiatives.

Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre,(NCTC-ONSA), said this at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting.

The meeting was organised for the Review of Policy Framework and National Action Plan Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF–NAP for PCVE) in Nigeria, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The PF-NAP was adopted in 2017.

Laka said that multi-sectorial, whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach had enabled collaboration between government, civil society, and international partners, leading to impactful interventions at the national, state, and sub-national levels.

According to him, in spite of the progress, challenges remain.

“The NCTC has been at the forefront of coordinating PCVE efforts nationwide, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based, strategic, and aligned with national security objectives.

“Our commitment to this mandate is unwavering, and we are dedicated to strengthening the institutionalisation of PCVE in Nigeria through effective coordination, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge-driven decision-making.

“We have actively engaged with stakeholders and partners to understand the evolving landscape of violent extremism and the key challenges facing our interventions.

“This has enabled us to reposition NCTC-ONSA to deliver effectively on its mandate,’’ he said.

Laka said a validation meeting reviewed the Draft Guidelines and the Draft Strategic Communications Plan for PCVE/DDRR.

This, he said, was a testament to NCTC commitment to addressing critical gaps in the PCVE interventions.

“These documents will significantly enhance our collective response to violent extremism and ensure greater coordination across all levels,” he said.

Laka urged all stakeholders including government agencies, international partners, donors, CSOs, and community actors to actively contribute, share insights, and provide strategic support to ensure successful revision of the PF-NAP for PCVE.

According to him, their engagement will not only strengthen Nigeria’s response but will reinforce our commitment to sustainable peace, security, and national stability.

“Together, let us build a more inclusive, effective, and sustainable framework that will shape Nigeria’s PCVE interventions for years to come,” he added.

The Director of PCVE at NCTC-ONSA, Amb. Mairo Abbas, said the primary objective of the meeting was to engage critical stakeholders in the review process of the existing PF-NAP.

Abbas said the meeting would provide an opportunity for inclusive consultation, ensuring the revised framework was comprehensive, effective and responsive to the current and emerging trends of violent extremism in Nigeria.

“This engagement is essential because PCVE is a multi-sectorial issue that requires a whole-of-society approach, bringing together government institutions, civil society, development partners, and the private sector.

“Through this consultative process, we aim to institutionalise lessons learned, integrate best practices, and enhance coordination in our collective efforts to counter violent extremism,” she said.

Abbas said that key focus areas include assessing the implementation of the 2017 PF-NAP; institutionalising success stories and enhancing coordination and stakeholder engagement, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Sadiya Hamza

Violent extremism most complex security challenge in Nigeria – Counter-terrorism boss

Muhyideen Jimoh
Feb, Wed, 2025

Defence/Security

Violent extremism most complex security challenge in Nigeria – Counter-terrorism boss

365 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, says that violent extremism remains one of the most complex security challenges that threatens Nigeria’s national security.

Laka stated this at the opening of the Workshop and Validation Meeting on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Guidelines and Strategic Communication Plan on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that violent extremism had also threatened the very fabric of Nigerian communities, institutions, and social cohesion.

Laka said that the workshop highlighted their unified determination to enhance the nation’s capacity to counter violent extremism and to ensure the seamless implementation of PCVE strategies at every level of governance.

He said the Federal Government of Nigeria had developed the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for PCVE to serve as a guiding strategy for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach in tackling radicalisation and violent extremism.

According to him, a policy is only as effective as its implementation, and that is why we are gathered here today, to ensure that we take deliberate and strategic steps toward localizing and operationalising this framework.

“Over the course of these two days, we will focus on the domestication and localisation of the PF-NAP for PCVE.

“This will be done through exploring strategies to integrate PCVE principles into the operational frameworks of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as at the state and local government levels.

“We will also identify existing gaps, challenges, and opportunities for institutionalizing PCVE efforts across various sectors.

“For the validation of the PCVE Guidelines and Strategic Communication Plan, we will conduct a thorough review of the draft PCVE Guidelines to ensure they align with national priorities, security realities, and international best practices.

“Furthermore, we will validate the draft strategic communication plan, taking cognisance that effective messaging is crucial in countering extremist narratives, fostering positive community engagement, and ensuring that our responses remain proactive, and evidence based,” he said.

The Director of PCVE at NCTC, Amb. Mairo Musa, said the main objectives of the workshop was centered around enhancing the understanding of the policy framework on preventing and countering violent extremism and facilitating its localisation at institutional state and community levels.

Musa said that effective implementation requires domestication, ownership, integration within existing government agencies and security structures.

She said it was to also assess, refine and validate the strategic communication plan to align with the evolving security landscape and leverage effective messaging to counter extremist narratives and promote peace-building efforts.

According to her, it is also to foster cross-sectional collaboration and information sharing, strengthening multi-sector stakeholder synergy in PCV implementation.

Musa said it was expected that the outcome would strengthen understanding of the PCV-PFNAP amongst MDAs at the state, institutions and other stakeholders with clear strategies for its localisation and institutionalisation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spokespersons for the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force as well other security, intelligence and response agencies were present at the event. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba