Senate President Godswill Akpabio has launched Nigeria’s five-year Counter-Terrorism Strategic Plan (2025–2030), outlining a comprehensive roadmap to modernize security, strengthen resilience, and tackle terrorism and violent extremism nationwide.
The Strategic Plan, developed by the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, provides a forward-looking framework aimed at transforming institutions, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and fostering strategic partnerships across government, civil society, industry, and international allies.
In his keynote address, Akpabio emphasized that the launch represents more than a policy initiative, it is a defining moment in Nigeria’s pursuit of peace and security, “Our citizens deserve to live without fear, our children deserve a future of stability, and our nation must be secured to prosper”, he said. He noted that the plan translates intent into actionable measures, promoting long-term strategic planning over short-term reactive responses.
Highlighting the legislature’s role, Akpabio recalled that the 10th National Assembly has enacted key laws on defence, policing, intelligence coordination, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism, ensuring agencies have the legal, budgetary, and oversight support necessary for effective operations. He stressed that security is a shared responsibility, requiring engagement from communities, traditional institutions, private sector actors, and international partners.
NSA Nuhu Ribadu, who also spoke at the launch, described the plan as the product of extensive research, inter-agency collaboration, and consultations with security experts, academia, civil society, and international stakeholders. He noted that the vision includes establishing the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional hub of excellence for countering terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel.
“The success of this plan depends on collective action,”Akpabio concluded. “Legislation alone cannot secure our nation. We must invest in our people, deploy innovative technologies, and foster partnerships that ensure safety and security for all Nigerians”, he added.
Akpabio further highlighted that the Strategic Plan focuses on modernizing Nigeria’s security architecture, strengthening national resilience, investing in people and technology, and enhancing training to ensure that the country can proactively prevent and respond to emerging threats.
About the Author
