The African Union has designated Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) a Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism, authorising the institution to support efforts against terrorism and violent extremism across West Africa and the Sahel.
The accreditation was announced on October 27, 2026, by the Acting Director of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali, at the conclusion of the African Lessons Learned Forum in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the NCTC, Abu Michael, said the recognition followed an assessment of the centre’s institutional capacity, governance structure, training programmes, analytical capabilities and coordination mechanisms.
The assessment also examined the centre’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law.
According to the statement, the accreditation advances President Bola Tinubu’s vision of establishing Nigeria as a regional hub for counter-terrorism cooperation, as reflected in the Abuja Declaration.
“The approval fulfils the President’s vision, subsequently reflected in the Abuja Declaration, to position the NCTC as a regional hub for strengthening intelligence sharing, operational coordination, specialised training and capacity building in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism,” the statement said.
It added that the development marked a significant step in Nigeria’s contribution to collective African security by formally extending the centre’s responsibilities beyond the country’s borders.
Under its expanded mandate, the NCTC will provide specialised training, conduct joint threat assessments, undertake research, offer technical assistance and facilitate the exchange of operational lessons among African Union member states.
The centre is also expected to strengthen intelligence sharing and institutional cooperation among countries confronting terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in West Africa and the Sahel.
“The designation confers on NCTC an expanded regional responsibility to support African Union Member States through specialised training, joint threat analysis, research, technical assistance, lessons-learned exchanges and enhanced counter terrorism cooperation,” the statement added.
Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the NCTC National Coordinator, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, described the accreditation as recognition of Nigeria’s progress in counter-terrorism efforts and a call for greater responsibility in promoting continental security.
“Today marks a proud and consequential moment for Nigeria and Africa as the National Counter Terrorism Centre is formally accredited as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism,” Ribadu said.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his leadership and continued investment in the country’s security architecture, noting that the achievement aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ribadu also acknowledged the contributions of the African Union Commission, the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, the leadership and personnel of the NCTC, security and justice institutions, civil society organisations, local communities and international partners to the accreditation process.
He said the Federal Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser would sustain their support for the centre to enable it to discharge its expanded regional responsibilities effectively.
According to him, the commitment would include adequate staffing, sustainable funding, stronger institutional partnerships and continued compliance with the requirements attached to the accreditation.
The designation positions Nigeria’s counter-terrorism centre to play a greater role in regional capacity building and coordinated responses to security threats affecting countries across West Africa and the Sahel.
