Feb. 28, 2025
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), will commence the implementation of a radicalisation and rehabilitation initiative in the Northwestern states.
Amb. Mairo Abbas-Musa, the Director of the Directorate of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in NCTC, disclosed this at the Executive Policy and Peer Learning Roundtable held on Thursday in Sokoto.
The event focused on Natural Resource Management and Pathways Out of Violence and Criminality.
The two-day review meeting was organised by International Alert, an NGO, and supported by UK International Development and Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiN).
She said the NCTC was fully committed to building inclusive advocacy coalitions for sustainable natural resource management and pathways out of violence.
She noted that the centre was playing a key role in promoting strategic coordination and oversight on the implementation of various security-related policy documents, programmes, and initiatives.
“ONSA adopts a government and society approach in coordinating the efforts of various stakeholders.
“At the strategic level, NCTC coordinates the implementation of initiatives that provide exit pathways for terrorists and violent extremists, encouraging defection and surrender,” she said.
She explained that the outcomes of these initiatives feed into activities at the camp located in Malam Sidi, Gombe State, after due screening and categorisation.
She added that those categorised as high risk were subjected to the criminal justice process.
According to Abbas-Musa, NCTC has been at the forefront of coordinating nationwide efforts, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based, strategic, and aligned with national security objectives.
She stressed that the success of these programmes was due to the adoption of recommendations from stakeholder engagements, in collaboration with partners such as International Alert.
In his address, Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, Country Director of International Alert, said the event focused on exit pathways out of violence and criminality, contributing to policy processes at all levels.
He noted that the central aim was to convene diverse stakeholders to foster dialogue, share best practices, and explore collaborative advocacy efforts for sustainable peace.
“The interplay between natural resource management and conflict remains a significant concern in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest.
“Effective management of natural resource-induced conflict requires sustainable practices, effective leadership, and robust institutions to facilitate justice provisioning,” Nyulaku-Bemshima stated.
He emphasised the importance of restorative justice, truth, and reconciliation processes.
“We expect to share lessons on establishing peace agencies and multi-door courthouses to provide alternative dispute resolution practices, access to justice, and create pathways for reconciliation initiatives,”he said.
Nyulaku-Bemshima highlighted that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms provided an efficient way to settle disputes without going to court.
“It makes settlement faster, less expensive, and more confidential than traditional court proceedings,”he said.
Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, Team Lead of SPRiNG, described the training as an important opportunity for key project stakeholders.
He said that groups consisting of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional and religious leaders were able to learn and engage in productive sessions that would boost collective efforts toward safer and more resilient communities.
Ukiwo emphasised the need for sustained efforts to strengthen institutional processes in Nigeria through effective coordination, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge-driven decision-making.
He urged the government to continue reinforcing partnerships and strengthening capacities with relevant stakeholders to ensure a safe, peaceful, and resilient nation.
The event was attended by the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Mrs Deborah Aber, and participants from Katsina, Zamfara, Benue, and other southern parts of Nigeria.(NAN)
