AU names Nigeria's counter-terrorism centre a regional hub for West Africa and Sahel

Di African Union don accredit Nigeria National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as a Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism, wey go give am bigger role across West Africa and di Sahel.

Dem announce di decision on 27 October 2026 by Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali, acting director of di African Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), for di end of di African Lessons Learned Forum for Abuja. He talk on behalf of di AU Commission Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

For ordinary Nigerians, di change no mean new troops or new money for house. E mean say di centre, wey dey under di Office of di National Security Adviser (ONSA), go now train and share intelligence with oda African kontris wey dey face similar threats from armed groups.

Wetin di centre go do

According to one statement by di NCTC spokesman, Abu Michael, di centre go support AU member states with specialised training, joint threat analysis, research, technical assistance and exchange of lessons learned.

Di accreditation follow assessment of di centre institutional capacity, governance, training programmes, analytical skills, coordination and how e respect human rights and di rule of law.

Lallali talk say di process start with one Memorandum of Understanding between di AU and di NCTC for September 2025. One technical assessment team from di AUCTC visit Abuja for December 2025 and set out di standards wey di centre must meet.

He talk say di accreditation go first last three years and e fit renew. Di formal terms go reach di Federal Government through one Note Verbale from di AU Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

"It is therefore my pleasure to announce that the African Union is accrediting the NCTC as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism," Lallali talk.

Ribadu hail di recognition

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, wey NCTC National Coordinator Major General Adamu Garba Laka represent, call di accreditation recognition of Nigeria progress and bigger responsibility for di continent security.

"Today marks a proud and consequential moment for Nigeria and Africa," Ribadu talk. He thank President Bola Tinubu for wetin he describe as sustained investment in Nigeria security architecture, talk say di achievement advance di Renewed Hope Agenda.

Di statement talk say di accreditation fulfil Tinubu vision, wey he first announce for one high-level African counter-terrorism meeting for Abuja for April 2024 and later reflect for di Abuja Declaration, to make di centre a regional hub.

Ribadu talk say di Federal Government and ONSA go keep supporting di centre with staffing, funding and partnerships so e can meet di demands of im new regional role.

Wetin go happen next: Di AU go send di formal accreditation terms to Abuja. Di centre go then begin to take on regional training and analysis work alongside im existing duties for Nigeria.