President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has urged African nations to establish a regional counter-terrorism center aimed at bolstering intelligence sharing and operational coordination across the continent.
Speaking at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to combatting terrorism, addressing not only its symptoms but also its underlying causes such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
Highlighting the evolving nature of terrorism, President Tinubu underscored the importance of targeting the financial streams that sustain terrorist activities, including ransom and illegal mining. He called on the international community to support African efforts in combating these illicit financing channels.
Furthermore, President Tinubu advocated for the establishment of a regional standby force with a mandate to tackle terrorism, emphasizing the need for careful yet meaningful progress towards this goal.
In addition to enhancing regional cooperation, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in bolstering its own counter-terrorism capabilities, including the enactment of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act and the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The President also called for concerted action to address the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) on the continent, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation and capacity building to effectively combat this threat.
In attendance at the meeting were key figures including Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser of Nigeria, who highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in addressing the drivers of violent extremism and enhancing intelligence gathering.
Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, emphasized the importance of rebuilding the social contract with African citizens and delivering good governance as a means to combat terrorism.
Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), commended Nigeria for its leadership in counter-terrorism and reiterated the UN’s support for Africa-led initiatives in combating terrorism.
The meeting concluded with a call for decisive action to address the scourge of terrorism in Africa and a commitment to continued cooperation among African nations and the international community.
The details of the meeting was made known to public on Monday evening by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser on Media Publicity to President Tinubu.
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