AU Accredits Nigeria’s Counter-Terrorism Centre As Regional Centre Of Excellence

The African Union (AU) has accredited Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism.

The accreditation was announced on October 27, 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.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared the NCTC, under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), a Regional Centre of Excellence for West Africa and the Sahel at the High-Level African Counter Terrorism Meeting held in Abuja in April 2024.

A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, NCTC-ONSA, Michael Abu, said the accreditation fulfils the President’s vision, reflected in the Abuja Declaration, to position the centre as a regional hub for strengthening intelligence sharing, operational coordination, specialised training and capacity building in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

He said the recognition marked a significant milestone in Nigeria’s contribution to collective African security, formally positioning the centre to support AU member states, particularly across West Africa and the Sahel, through enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation and institutional capacity development.

Abu explained that the designation gives the NCTC an expanded regional responsibility to support AU member states through specialised training, joint threat analysis, research, technical assistance, lessons-learned exchanges and enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation.

The AU said the recognition followed a rigorous assessment of the centre’s institutional capacity, governance, training programmes, analytical capabilities, coordination mechanisms, and adherence to human rights and the rule of law.

According to Abu, the accreditation process began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the AU and the NCTC in September 2025. This was followed by a technical assessment mission conducted by the AUCTC in Abuja in December 2025, which produced an Accreditation Roadmap outlining the institutional standards required for recognition.

He said the NCTC had since worked to strengthen its governance structures, develop training curricula and operational procedures, enhance its analytical and coordination functions, and reinforce its commitment to human rights and the rule of law.

He added that meeting the accreditation requirements reflected the centre’s institutional development and the collaborative efforts of the ONSA, NCTC leadership and personnel, and strategic partners.

Announcing the accreditation, Lallali said the decision would be formally conveyed to the Federal Government through a note verbale from the AU Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, through the AUCTC.

He said the accreditation would initially run for three years and be renewable, adding that the formal communication would specify the centre’s regional responsibilities and the AU’s commitments in return.

Speaking at the event, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the NCTC National Coordinator, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, described the accreditation as both recognition of Nigeria’s progress and a responsibility to contribute more substantially to Africa’s collective security.

Ribadu thanked President Tinubu for his leadership, political will and sustained investment in the country’s national security architecture, saying the achievement advanced the Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfilled the President’s vision of positioning the centre to serve Nigeria, West Africa, the Sahel and the wider continent.

He also commended the African Union Commission and the AUCTC for their technical support and rigorous assessment, particularly acknowledging Lallali’s commitment throughout the mapping, assessment and accreditation stages.

The NSA recognised Laka for his leadership and sustained efforts in driving the accreditation process to completion.

He also praised the centre’s officers and staff, Nigeria’s security and justice institutions, ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations, communities and international partners for their contributions.

Ribadu said the Federal Government and the ONSA would continue to support the NCTC in meeting the additional demands of its regional mandate through appropriate staffing, sustainable resources, institutional partnerships and the maintenance of accreditation standards.