Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has urged for the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism center aimed at enhancing intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building across Africa. Speaking at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive approach in addressing terrorism, focusing not only on military might but also on tackling root causes such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
Highlighting the evolving nature of terrorism, President Tinubu stressed the importance of addressing financial sources that sustain terrorist activities, including ransom and illegal mining. He emphasized the international community’s responsibility in curbing external financing that fuels illegal operations.
Central to President Tinubu’s proposal is the urgent establishment of a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre, alongside the reinforcement of existing structures such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit in Abuja and the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers.
While acknowledging the challenges in establishing such a force, President Tinubu emphasized the need for a pragmatic approach aligned with international law and respecting national sovereignty. He underscored the potential of a regional standby force to swiftly respond to major threats and bolster regional security.
President Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in combating terrorism, including the enactment of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act and the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre. He commended the dedication of security forces in safeguarding the nation and called for collective action to halt the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
In response, National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, outlined Nigeria’s multifaceted approach in addressing the drivers of terrorism, including organized crime, foreign financing, poverty, and inequality. He emphasized enhanced intelligence gathering and judicial measures to prosecute terrorism cases.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ms. Amina Mohammed, stressed the importance of rebuilding the social contract with citizens and delivering good governance to counter terrorism. Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, praised Nigeria’s leadership in counter-terrorism and emphasized UNOCT’s support for Africa-led solutions.