AU accredits Nigeria’s counter-terrorism centre as regional hub

The Acting Director of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre, Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali.

The African Union has accredited Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre as a Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism, expanding its mandate to support countries in 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.

A statement released on Wednesday by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre spokesman, Abu Michael, said the accreditation followed an assessment of the centre’s institutional capacity, governance, training programmes, analytical capabilities, coordination mechanisms and adherence to human rights and the rule of law.

The statement partly read, “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. 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.

“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 accreditation was announced on 27 October 2026 by the acting 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, at the conclusion of the African Lessons Learned Forum in Abuja. ”

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 and an increased responsibility to strengthen 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 thanked Tinubu for his leadership and sustained investment in Nigeria’s security architecture, saying the achievement advanced the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The NSA also commended the African Union Commission, the AUCTC, the NCTC leadership and personnel, as well as security and justice institutions, civil society organisations, communities and international partners for their contributions to the accreditation process.

Ribadu said the Federal Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser would continue to support the centre through adequate staffing, sustainable funding, institutional partnerships and compliance with accreditation standards.