Tinubu to Launch Revised Counter-Terrorism Strategy Amid Escalating Security Challenges‎

Tinubu to Launch Revised Counter-Terrorism Strategy Amid Escalating Security Challenges‎

By Abiola Adigun

Nigeria is preparing to unveil a revised national counter-terrorism strategy in October, a move security experts say is crucial as the country battles a complex mix of insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping that have crippled communities, displaced millions, and worsened economic hardships.
Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), disclosed at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja that the review of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), which began in February 2025, has now been completed and forwarded to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for final approval.
“The revised draft national counter-terrorism strategy incorporates all feedback received during the validation exercise and has been finalised. The final step will be to secure a suitable date for His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, to officially launch the revised strategy,” Laka said.
He stressed that the review was necessary to reflect “emerging threats, shifting terrorist tactics, and the use of new technologies,” adding that its success depends on translating provisions into coordinated, practical action across five pillars: prevent, protect, identify, prepare, and implement.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s prolonged fight against Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which continues to wage insurgency in the North-East. At the same time, banditry and mass kidnappings have ravaged the North-West and North-Central, undermining food production, destabilizing rural economies, and fuelling humanitarian crises.
Figures from the United Nations estimate that over 3 million people remain displaced in the North-East, while thousands more in the North-West and North-Central have been forced to abandon their homes due to bandit attacks. Education has also suffered a devastating blow, with UNICEF reporting that over 1,400 students were abducted from schools between 2020 and 2023, forcing many institutions, especially in rural areas, to shut down.
“This revised strategy is long overdue. Nigeria has been fighting old battles with outdated playbooks,” said Dr. Kabiru Adamu, a security analyst based in Abuja. “The terrorists and bandits have become more sophisticated, using drones, encrypted communications, and networks across borders. Our response has to evolve.”
Beyond the human cost, insecurity has deeply affected Nigeria’s economy. Analysts note that agricultural output in the North—once the country’s food basket—has plummeted as farmers flee farmlands. The World Bank estimates that insecurity in the North has cost Nigeria billions of dollars in agricultural losses, contributing to food inflation that hit record highs in 2024.
“Banditry and insurgency have transformed from a security problem into an economic crisis,” said Zainab Suleiman, a conflict researcher at Bayero University, Kano. “Displaced farmers are not producing, children are not learning, and investors are pulling back. The ripple effects are visible in rising food prices and declining human capital.”
Laka emphasized that Nigeria’s revised strategy is not only a domestic necessity but also a regional obligation. “As the National Counter-Terrorism Centre consolidates its position as a regional hub for counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel, the implementation of the strategy takes on greater importance,” he said.
Ahmad Madawaki, NCTC’s Director of Policy and Strategy, explained that the review adopted a “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach involving ministries, agencies, civil society, traditional leaders, and international partners. “This strategy is community-driven and inclusive, as directed by the president. Everyone has a role to play,” he said.
While the planned launch has raised expectations, many Nigerians remain skeptical given past gaps between policy and implementation.
“The government has rolled out several counter-terrorism strategies since 2009, yet the violence persists,” noted Chidi Nwaonu, a security consultant and former military officer. “The test is not in launching a glossy document but in political will, funding, intelligence coordination, and the ability to win community trust.”
For communities living under daily threat, however, the hope is that Tinubu’s revised counter-terrorism strategy will finally mark a turning point.
“Nigerians are tired of living in fear,” said Aisha Ibrahim, a displaced teacher from Borno now living in Abuja. “If this new strategy can bring back our schools, our farms, and our homes, then it will be truly meaningful.”