By Sumaila Ogbaje
Nigeria is actively working to outpace terrorist groups in the technology domain.
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre – Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), made this known at the CT-TECH First National Workshop on Nigeria’s Law Enforcement Capacities for New Technologies in Countering Terrorism on Thursday in Abuja.
The two-day high-level workshop, hosted at the NCTC Headquarters in Abuja, marks the first national workshop under the CT-TEC Plus initiative, a joint effort between Nigeria, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), INTERPOL, and the European Union.
Laka said the workshop was more than a meeting, saying “it is a declaration of readiness.
“We are not just playing catch-up. We are building a security architecture that anticipates, adapts, and acts.
“The CTTEC Plus initiative aims to reinforce Nigeria’s national response to terrorist threats by bridging critical gaps in cybersecurity, legal frameworks, policy development, and interagency collaboration.
“The sessions will also focus on human rights, gender sensitivity, and the rule of law—three principles he described as “non-negotiable in modern counterterrorism,” he said.
Laka said the workshop was just about boots on the ground anymore but about minds in the room, laws on the books, and systems that work in real time.
He called on all participants to engage, ask, collaborate, and challenge norms, adding that the future of national security was being shaped in rooms like this.
In her remarks, the Political Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria, Ms Agnieszka de Oliveira, reiterated EU’s unwavering support for Nigeria’s efforts in enhancing security, stability, and prosperity across the region.
De Oliveira praised the deepening collaboration between Nigeria and the EU, describing it as “fruitful” and aligned with shared strategic priorities.
She commended Nigerian participants who have completed advanced trainings in dark web analysis, virtual asset investigations, and open-source intelligence.
The EU official also emphasised that EU’s funding of the CT-Tech Plus project stems from mutual values and goals, including human rights, gender sensitivity, and the rule of law.
“The stability and prosperity of Nigeria is crucial—not only for Africa but for Europe as well.
“This is why we continue to work hand-in-hand with NCTC-ONSA, and the wider defence and security sector.
“We are not only keeping our fingers crossed—we are actively working with you to build a safer, more stable Nigeria,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Kimairis Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor, UN Nigeria, reaffirmed commitment to supporting Nigeria in harnessing new technologies to counter terrorism and enhance national security.
Toogood commended Nigeria’s proactive approach and regional leadership in security innovation.
She emphasised that the workshop presents a timely opportunity for self-assessment, gap analysis, and the creation of a practical roadmap to strengthen law enforcement’s technological capacity in the fight against terrorism.
The UN official praised the partnership between the Nigerian government, UNOCT, Interpol, and the European Union, calling it a “key cornerstone” of global efforts to modernize counterterrorism tools while protecting human rights.
“Effective counterterrorism measures and the protection of human rights are not conflicting goals but are mutually reinforcing.
“You are a crucial part of the puzzle. “We commend your energy and assure you that we have your back,” she added. (NAN)