The African Union has accredited Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as African regional centre of excellence in counter terrorism.
The accreditation was introduced on 27 October 2026 by the performing Director of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali, on behalf of the African Union Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, on the conclusion of the African Lessons Learned Forum in Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) a Regional Centre of Excellence for West Africa and the Sahel on the High-Level African Counter Terrorism Meeting held in Abuja in April 2024.
A press release by the Head Strategic Communication NCTC-ONSA Mr Abu, Michael mentioned the approval fulfils the President’s imaginative and prescient mirrored within the Abuja Declaration, to place the NCTC as a regional hub for strengthening intelligence sharing, operational coordination, specialised coaching and capability constructing within the combat in opposition to terrorism and violent extremism.
“It also marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s contribution to collective African security, formally positioning the Centre to support African Union Member States, particularly across West Africa and the Sahel, through enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation and institutional capacity development,” he mentioned.
Abu defined that the designation confers on NCTC an expanded regional accountability to assist African Union Member States by specialised coaching, joint menace evaluation, analysis, technical help, lessons-learned exchanges and enhanced counter terrorism cooperation..
The AU authority mentioned the popularity follows a rigorous evaluation of the centre’s institutional capability, governance, coaching programmes, analytical capabilities, coordination mechanisms, and adherence to human rights and the rule of regulation.
He famous that the accreditation course of commenced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the NCTC in September 2025, adopted by a technical evaluation mission performed by the AUCTC in Abuja in December 2025, which produced an Accreditation Roadmap detailing the institutional requirements required for recognition.
He added that since then, the NCTC has labored systematically to strengthen its governance buildings, develop coaching curricula and operational procedures, improve its analytical and coordination features, and reinforce its dedication to human rights and the rule of regulation.
He reiterated that the profitable completion of the accreditation necessities displays the centre’s institutional improvement and the collaborative efforts of the ONSA, the NCTC management, its personnel and strategic companions.
Dr Lallali declares thus, “It is subsequently my pleasure to announce that the Africa Union is accrediting the NCTC as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism.
“This resolution will probably be conveyed formally to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by a Note Verbale. It will come from the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, by the AUCTC.
“That Note will set out the terms of the accreditation: an initial period of three years, renewable, the regional responsibilities the Centre now takes on, and the commitments the African Union makes in return.”
Speaking on the declaration, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the NCTC National Coordinator, Major General Adamu garba Laka, described the accreditation as each a recognition of Nigeria’s progress and a accountability to contribute extra considerably to Africa’s collective safety.
He mentioned, “Today marks a proud and consequential second for Nigeria and Africa because the National Counter Terrorism Centre is formally accredited as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism. I start by thanking the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his management, political will and sustained funding in our nationwide safety structure.
“This achievement advances the Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfills Mr President’s vision of positioning the centre to serve Nigeria, West Africa, the Sahel and the wider continent.”
He additionally counseled the African Union Commission and the AUCTC for his or her technical assist and the rigorous accreditation course of, significantly acknowledging Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali for his dedication all through the mapping, evaluation and accreditation phases.
The NSA specifically recognised the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, for his management, dedication and sustained efforts in driving the accreditation course of to completion.
He additionally praised the officers and employees of the centre, in addition to Nigeria’s safety and justice establishments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organisations, communities and worldwide companions for his or her contributions.
According to the NSA, the federal authorities and ONSA will proceed to assist the NCTC in assembly the extra calls for of its regional mandate by applicable staffing, sustainable assets, institutional partnerships and the upkeep of accreditation requirements.
