Akpabio Unveils Nigeria’s 2025–2030 Counter Terrorism Strategic Plan

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Monday formally unveiled Nigeria’s Counter Terrorism Strategic Plan 2025–2030, emphasizing that every Nigerian deserves to live without fear.

Developed by the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Strategic Plan aims to strengthen the country’s security framework over the next five years.

In his keynote address, Akpabio said the launch was more than the presentation of a policy document; it marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward peace and stability. “It is a moment when Nigeria reaffirms that our people deserve to live without fear, that our children deserve a future of peace, and that our nation must be secured to prosper,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of addressing insecurity, noting its impact on development. “Insecurity weakens the foundations of development. Investors withdraw, schools close, farmers abandon their fields, and hope retreats from the hearts of our young people. That is why a pragmatic, forward-looking, and implementation-driven plan such as this is timely, necessary, and welcome,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President stressed that while security is a shared responsibility, the legislature has a unique role in providing legal, budgetary, and oversight support to security institutions. He pointed to laws enacted by the 10th National Assembly in areas such as defence, policing, intelligence coordination, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism.

Akpabio also emphasized the need for investment in people, technology, training, and strategic partnerships. “We must replace short-term firefighting with long-term planning. This strategic plan matters because it translates intent into action and action into measurable results. Security is not the duty of government alone, but a shared responsibility of citizens, communities, traditional institutions, the private sector, and international allies,” he said.

Represented by Major General Adamu Laka, the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu described the plan as the product of extensive research, inter-agency collaboration, and consultations across government ministries, security institutions, academia, civil society, and international partners.

He added that the vision is to establish the National Counter Terrorism Centre as a regional centre of excellence in countering terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel.