The African Union has accredited Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as African regional centre of excellence in counter terrorism.
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.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), 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 Strategic Communication NCTC-ONSA Mr Abu, Michael said the approval fulfils the President’s vision 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,” he said.
Abu explained that 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 AU authority said the recognition follows 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.
He noted that the accreditation process commenced with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the NCTC in September 2025, followed by a technical assessment mission conducted by the AUCTC in Abuja in December 2025, which produced an Accreditation Roadmap detailing the institutional standards required for recognition.
He added that since then, the NCTC has worked systematically 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 reiterated that the successful completion of the accreditation requirements reflects the centre’s institutional development and the collaborative efforts of the ONSA, the NCTC leadership, its personnel and strategic partners.
Dr Lallali declares thus, “It is therefore my pleasure to announce that the Africa Union is accrediting the NCTC as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism.
“This decision will be conveyed formally to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a Note Verbale. It will come from the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, through the AUCTC.
“That Note will set out the terms of the accreditation: an initial period of three years, renewable, the regional responsibilities the Centre now takes on, and the commitments the African Union makes in return.”
Speaking at the declaration, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by the NCTC National Coordinator, Major General Adamu garba Laka, described the accreditation as both a recognition of Nigeria’s progress and a responsibility to contribute more substantially to Africa’s collective security.
He said, “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. I begin by thanking the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his leadership, political will and sustained investment in our national security architecture.
“This achievement advances the Renewed Hope Agenda and fulfills Mr 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 the rigorous accreditation process, particularly acknowledging Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali for his commitment throughout the mapping, assessment and accreditation stages.
The NSA specially recognised the National Coordinator of the NCTC, Major General Adamu Garba Laka, for his leadership, determination and sustained efforts in driving the accreditation process to completion.
He also praised the officers and staff of the centre, as well as Nigeria’s security and justice institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, civil society organisations, communities and international partners for their contributions.
According to the NSA, the federal government and ONSA will 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.