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Nigeria Seeks Collaboration in Fight Against Terrorism

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Nigeria Seeks Collaboration in Fight Against Terrorism

By: Michael Mike

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has called for collaboration with the Nigerian government in its battle at ending insecurity in the country, insisting that the fight against terrorism is not one that any nation can undertake alone, but rather requires concerted global effort.

Speaking at the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism and Memorial for Victims of August 26, 2011 Terror Attack at United Nations House in Abuja, Nigeria, the NSA who was represented by the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre. Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka decried that terrorism has left a profound and painful mark on Nigeria, Africa, and many other parts of the world.

He said: “For us in Nigeria, we have experienced the devastation of countless terror attacks that have claimed lives, destroyed properties, torn families apart, and displaced millions from their homes. The scars of terrorism are deeply etched from the Northeast to the heart of our capital, Abuja. We remember, in particular, the horrific bombing of the United Nations House on 26 August 2011, a senseless act of violence that claimed the lives of 23 individuals and injured over 60 others.

“These were people who had dedicated their lives to peace, development, and the betterment of humanity, yet they became victims of the very menace they sought to combat. I therefore wish to commemorate these heroes and their families on this sad event.

“In this solemn moment, we remember the countless victims of terrorism, violence and conflict around the world. I also wish to pay tribute to the brave men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Many have laid down their lives so that we may continue to live in peace. Let us also remember the victims who have been injured or traumatized in the line of duty. Their dedication and commitment to preserving our freedom and securing our Nation is nothing short of heroic.”

He added that: “In the face of this adversity, the strength and resilience of those affected by terrorism stand as a testament to the human spirit. Despite the loss and trauma, survivors continue to show remarkable courage. As we mark the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, it is our collective responsibility to support and uplift them. We therefore must ensure that their voices are heard, their needs are met, and their rights are safeguarded. I am pleased to state that this commitment is at the core of the Office of the National Security Adviser’s mission, which drives our dedication to serve.”

Ribadu said: “I must at this point, commend the efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and all our partners for their steadfast support. Your partnership has been invaluable, especially in our ongoing efforts to address the needs of terrorism victims and strengthen our                 counter-terrorism measures. This collaborative spirit reinforces the belief that the fight against terrorism is not one that any nation can undertake alone, it requires concerted global effort.”

He revealed that: “Just yesterday at the National Counter Terrorism Centre, we had the privilege of engaging in a consultative meeting with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, and other partners, for the implementation of the Model Legislative Provisions. The project titled “Technical Assistance and Cooperation with the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Promotion and Support of the Rights and Needs of Victims of Terrorism” aims to achieve its objectives by enhancing our national and sub-national capacities to develop comprehensive assistance plans. I must say that, this aligns perfectly with the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022 and the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism. Through the Model Legislative Provisions Project, we hope to build a robust system that will address the immediate needs of victims and contribute to their long-term recovery, resilience, and empowerment. The project will be a giant stride towards ensuring that victims of terrorism receive the support they deserve.”

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres has said: “Acts of terrorism create a wave of unimaginable grief. Families and communities torn apart by terrorist acts are forever changed. The scars – both visible and invisible – never fully heal.”
 
He added that: “Through the torment and tragedy, we have also witnessed remarkable examples of resilience and the enduring power of our common humanity.”
 
The Secretary General’s speech on International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism,
which was delivered by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, noted that: “Reflecting on personal trauma to educate others is an act of immense courage. This day urges us to listen and to learn. And it is a reminder that we must always seek out the light of hope. Together, we can raise up the voices of all victims and survivors. Together, we can help educate present and future generations. Together, we can build more peaceful, resilient societies for all.”
 
Mall recalled: “Here in Nigeria, 26th August 2011 started like a normal working day at UN House. Our colleagues were going about their normal work, serving this country in various capacities. There were teams of staff and partners from WHO that were making plans to serve this country. Others were our government counterparts who came to discuss with us how we can serve Nigeria better. Just like we have worked over the years.

“In an instant, all that changes. After the blast, 23 of our colleagues and some partners were dead. About 60 other sustained injuries and some are living with those scars until today. Others of our colleagues are living with emotional scars whenever they remember the colleagues they worked with closely – that are now gone. Gone prematurely. We pay tribute to all of the departed colleagues and say that they will never be forgotten.”

The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu on his part, said: “Most victims of terrorism are innocent citizens who find themselves at the wrong place and at the wrong time, randomly targeted in brutal attacks. The lives of survivors, and those of their families, can be irrevocably changed. Many victims take years to recover physically from their injuries or come to terms with their losses. Without help, the trauma can be a lifelong sentence.”

Nigeria Seeks Collaboration in Fight Against Terrorism

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Nigerian Air Force Neutralises Terrorists in Successful Air Interdiction at Maisani

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Nigerian Air Force Neutralises Terrorists in Successful Air Interdiction at Maisani

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have executed a coordinated strike on a major terrorist enclave located at Maisani in the Timbuktu Triangle general area of Borno State, killing several ISWAP terrorists.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the air interdiction mission conducted on May 4, 2025, at approximately 1800 hours, was informed by credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, targeted terrorists’ structures cleverly concealed and camouflaged under thick shrubs in the area.

The sources said that using advanced platforms, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted a focused Air Interdiction (AI) mission, resulting in the destruction of the identified enemy hideouts and the neutralisation of an unconfirmed number of insurgent fighters.

According to the sources, Post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) obtained from our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms confirmed that the airstrike achieved its intended objectives, dealing a significant blow to terrorists.

Nigerian Air Force Neutralises Terrorists in Successful Air Interdiction at Maisani

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Nigeria Looks to World Bank to Tackle Challenges of National Capital Accounting

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Nigeria Looks to World Bank to Tackle Challenges of National Capital Accounting

By: Michael Mike

As the world marks the 2025 Environment Day, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has appealed to the World Bank for support on capacity building, data and in addressing the challenges poised by Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) in the country.

Head of Department, National Accounts Energy and Environment at the NBS, Dr. Baba Madu made the appeal at the 2025 Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) Conference on Thursday in Abuja with support from the World Bank in. collaboration with the NBS and the Federal Ministry of Environment.

Madu while noting that the NCA was a new area Nigeria must exploit to further boost the nation’s economy, said for Nigeria to grow and be at par with other developed nations, there was need to account for her natural resources.

He said: “NCA has been tasked with the crucial role of integrating natural capital into economic measurement. It is impossible to measure the economy accurately without accounting for natural resources. Issues such as environmental degradation, afforestation, desertification, and climate change all directly impact productivity.

“Productivity in turn, influences output—one of the core components of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These environmental factors must be reflected across all economic activity sectors to present a more accurate picture of national output.”

While stating that Nigeria currently has data on NCA in Nigeria, the NBS official however raised concerns over the huge data gap from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the environment sector.

He said: “We are not doing badly but we need to improve on what we are doing. In terms of data sources, I can tell you there’s a big gap because these are new areas needed to be exploited.”

Programme Leader on Sustainable Development at the World Bank, Vina Vutukuru, said there was need to jointly
explore the vital role of national accounting in national development plans and to brainstorm on how Nigeria could institutionalize it.

He said: “Establishing the national capital accounting as part of the national account system will allow us to measure the economic value of ecosystem services such as clean air, water and biodiversity which are essential for our well-being and economic prosperity.”

Vutukuru commended Nigeria for having “very bold ambitions” as far as responding to climate change was concerned saying, “That shows the commitment of the policy makers here towards the issue of climate.

“But I think to back up that aspiration and the aggressive goals that Nigeria has set for itself, the foundational thing for those goals to materialize those objectives to come true is a very strong natural account system.”

Head of Media, National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), Chioma Azie who represented her Director General, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe at the event, described Nigeria as a very ambitious country, stressing that natural resources was instrumental to achieving all the objective of climate action.

She said: “Technology, policy reforms, behavioral changes has a role to play but natural resources is very key because they’re underpinning the mitigation and adaptation for climate action.

“If you look at Nigeria’s NDC, the NCA is an avenue to provide raw materials that we could use to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies.

“If you look at what we have done in terms of this NDC in 2020.which is the second leg of the NDC, we identified a lot of mitigation activities within this mentioned sectors of ours. In agricultural sector we talked about smart agriculture. What is smart agriculture without natural resources?

“We talked about biomass, what is biomass without natural resources? We also spoke about land use changes and that is natural resources, we talk about natural solutions and we talked about also afforestation, reafforestation. Those are mitigation potentials of our NDC. So, we cannot achieve our NDC without SEEA.

“What you cannot be able to account for is recorded as if it is not done so if we know what is existing in terms of the reservoirs we have for natural resources, it can inform the scope of the mitigation activities we’re going to be imputing in the NDC 3.0,” she said.

Nigeria Looks to World Bank to Tackle Challenges of National Capital Accounting

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NIMC Insists All Its Verification Services, Functional, Accessible

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NIMC Insists All Its Verification Services, Functional, Accessible
.. Says Police Service Commission Not Denied Access

By: Michael Mike

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said all its verification service platforms are functional and accessible to all partners including all security agencies.

The Commission, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Dr. Kayode Adegoke said it is aware of the purported ”inability of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to access the NIMC verification server,” insisting that the “information is not only misleading but also inaccurate.”

Adegoke said: “To set the record straight, the NIMC granted verification access to all Nigerian Police formations for the verification of the National Identification Number (NIN). The NPF, PSC and other security agencies have been enjoying uninterrupted verification services for over five years.

“NIMC has provided top-notch verification services for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force, as conducted by the PSC and at no time have there been any complaints or issues regarding NIN Verification by the NPF or PSC.”

Adegoke, in the statement, claimed that: “The Commission has a robust and harmonious working relationship with the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission. The Information Communications and Technology (ICT) department of the Nigeria Police Force is actively managing the long-standing verification and integration service between the NIMC and all Nigeria Police formations. NIMC will continue to provide flawless verification services for the purpose of recruitment, security mapping, cybercrime control, and any other security matters.”

He explained that: “The framework by which NIMC provides services to the security agencies was recently restructured for standardization and effective implementation, following consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser, and NPF has confirmed the verification services have continued to be available. We therefore believe that any service interruption experienced by PSC may be due to internal matters.”

He promised that: “NIMC is committed to providing excellent verification services to the PSC, NPF and all its partners but the terms and conditions inherent must be adhered to for uninterrupted flow of service.”

NIMC Insists All Its Verification Services, Functional, Accessible

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