“Turning Point in the War on Terror: FG Unveils Radical 5-Year Security Plan”
By Paul Ebi
President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Monday unveiled the National Counter-Terrorism Centre’s (NCTC) Strategic Plan 2025–2030, describing the document as a landmark step in Nigeria’s renewed drive to strengthen national security and defeat terrorism.
Speaking at the high-level launch in Abuja—attended by senior government officials, security chiefs, diplomats, private-sector leaders and development partners—Akpabio said the five-year plan arrives at a crucial moment as Nigeria intensifies efforts to modernise its security architecture.
He warned that insecurity had slowed national development, disrupted schooling, discouraged investment and weakened communities. The new strategic plan, he said, offers a disciplined roadmap to reverse these trends.
> “This strategy provides a framework to transform institutions, integrate advanced technology, improve intelligence coordination and foster stronger collaboration across government and society,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate President outlined three priority pillars that will guide implementation:• Strengthening national resilience through community intelligence and early-warning systems;• Deploying modern technology, including drones and advanced cybersecurity tools;• Expanding regional and international cooperation to tackle transnational threats.
He also stressed the importance of private-sector partnerships in financing security operations and supporting victims of terrorism, assuring that the National Assembly would enforce transparency and accountability in all collaborations.
> “The Strategic Plan is a national promise that Nigeria will not yield to fear or insecurity,” he said.
Ribadu: Plan Built on Two Decades of Lessons@National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu—represented by NCTC National Coordinator, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka—said the strategy is research-driven and rooted in lessons learned from over 20 years of combating insurgency.
He highlighted unemployment, drug abuse and lack of opportunities as major drivers of violent extremism. Programmes like Seeds of Hope, he said, are already rehabilitating victims of terrorism through agriculture and livelihood support.
The plan, he added, strengthens intelligence, operations, legal frameworks, judicial processes, strategic communication and national resilience—positioning Nigeria as a regional counter-terrorism leader.
AU, Development Partners Back Nigeria’s Vision@Dr. Usman Hussain, representing the African Union Commission (AUC), praised Nigeria’s leadership and the NCTC’s emergence as a regional centre of excellence. He announced upcoming AU technical missions and peer-review programmes to bolster Nigeria’s capacity.
Diplomats, development partners, private-sector leaders, NGOs and security chiefs also pledged support, calling the plan a crucial foundation for national stability and economic growth.
A New Chapter in Nigeria’s Security Strategy
The ceremony ended with a formal unveiling of the Strategic Plan 2025–2030—signalling what officials described as a new, coordinated chapter in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
