Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has stepped up its international engagement in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, with National Coordinator Major General Adamu Garba Laka leading a Nigerian delegation to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi.
The high-level United Nations gathering, which ran from September 26 to October 1, 2026, brought together international stakeholders to discuss emerging security challenges, crime prevention and stronger cooperation among countries.
For Nigeria, the participation provided an opportunity for the NCTC to present the country’s approach to countering terrorism and organised crime while also strengthening cooperation with international partners.
NCTC Takes Nigeria’s Security Message to the UN
During the congress, Major General Laka participated as a panellist at a CONNECT side event focused on strengthening operational networks against the growing connection between terrorism and organised crime.
The discussion placed particular emphasis on coordination, intelligence sharing and cooperation among national, regional and international institutions.
For the NCTC, these issues are increasingly important because criminal networks can operate across borders and may exploit gaps between different security and law enforcement institutions.
Consequently, the Centre has continued to promote greater coordination between government agencies and other stakeholders as part of Nigeria’s broader counterterrorism strategy.
Whole-of-Society Approach Takes Centre Stage
Another important aspect of the NCTC’s participation was its involvement in a side event titled “Why Whole of Society Matters: Enhancing Efforts to Prevent and Counter Organised Crime.”
The discussion focused on the role that communities, civil society organisations, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders can play in preventing and responding to organised crime.
This approach reflects the growing emphasis on involving more than security agencies in tackling terrorism and related criminal activities.
The NCTC has also been expanding partnerships within Nigeria. In September, the Centre launched a strategic partnership with the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State to strengthen cooperation between government, civil society and communities in preventing and countering terrorism.
Nigeria’s New Organised Crime Strategy
The international discussions also come shortly after Nigeria launched its National Strategy for Combating Organised Crime for 2027 to 2031.
The strategy provides a framework for addressing several interconnected security threats, including terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illicit financial flows, cybercrime, maritime crime and other forms of organised criminal activity.
The NCTC has described the strategy as part of a broader whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
Furthermore, the strategy places emphasis on improving coordination among agencies, strengthening intelligence sharing, disrupting criminal networks, protecting victims and improving the justice response.
NCTC Strengthens International Partnerships
Beyond the United Nations engagement, the Centre has continued to strengthen its relationships with regional and international institutions.
In August, the NCTC reaffirmed its commitment to stronger counterterrorism cooperation across West Africa and the Sahel during an engagement with Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to ECOWAS.
The Centre said it was working toward deeper regional cooperation and was finalising arrangements for further collaboration with ECOWAS.
The NCTC has also maintained partnerships with international organisations and foreign governments in areas including intelligence, counterterrorism capacity building and organised crime prevention.
Anti Kidnapping Efforts Remain a Priority
While international cooperation remains important, the NCTC continues to focus on security challenges within Nigeria.
One major area has been the fight against kidnapping.
In July, the Centre, with support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, launched the second phase of the Multi Agency Anti Kidnap Fusion Cell State Expansion Programme.
The initiative is designed to improve intelligence sharing and coordination between security and law enforcement agencies.
The programme also seeks to strengthen communication between state operational commanders and the national fusion cell, while improving investigation, intelligence integration and responses to kidnapping networks.
Focus on Intelligence and Coordination
The latest international engagement highlights one of the central themes of the NCTC’s current activities: stronger coordination.
Rather than relying solely on individual agencies, the Centre has continued to promote intelligence sharing and collaboration between security institutions, government agencies, civil society and international partners.
Major General Laka’s participation at the UN congress therefore provided an opportunity to share Nigeria’s experience while engaging with international discussions about emerging connections between terrorism and organised crime.
What the Latest Development Means for Nigeria
The NCTC’s participation in the United Nations Congress comes at a time when Nigeria is expanding its strategies for dealing with terrorism, kidnapping and organised crime.
The Centre’s recent activities show an increasing emphasis on intelligence-led responses, international cooperation and community participation.
At the same time, the effectiveness of these strategies will depend on how successfully policies and partnerships are translated into practical action within communities and across security institutions.
For now, the NCTC’s latest international engagement places Nigeria’s counterterrorism and organised crime strategies within a wider global conversation, while reinforcing the Centre’s stated focus on intelligence, coordination and cooperation.
As Nigeria continues to confront complex security threats, the role of the NCTC is likely to remain closely connected to efforts to strengthen national coordination and deepen partnerships at both regional and international levels.
