The African Union (AU) has accredited Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as a Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism for West Africa and the Sahel.

The designation, announced on October 27, 2026, expands the centre’s regional responsibilities, including intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis, specialised training and capacity building to address terrorism and violent extremism.

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According to a statement issued on Thursday by Abu Michael, Head of Strategic Communication at the NCTC, the accreditation marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s contribution to collective African security.

The recognition also advances President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision, announced at the High-Level African Counter Terrorism Meeting in Abuja in April 2024, to position the NCTC as a regional hub for counter-terrorism cooperation.

The Acting Director of the African Union Counter Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), Dr Idriss Mounir Lallali, announced the accreditation on behalf of the AU Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security at the conclusion of the African Lessons Learned Forum in Abuja.

Lallali said the decision followed an assessment of the NCTC’s institutional capacity, governance arrangements, training programmes, analytical capabilities and coordination mechanisms.

The review also considered the centre’s adherence to human rights and the rule of law.

“It is therefore my pleasure to announce that the African Union is accrediting the NCTC as an African Union Regional Centre of Excellence in Counter Terrorism,” Lallali said.

He explained that the decision would be formally communicated to the Nigerian Government through a Note Verbale issued by the AU’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security through the AUCTC.

The accreditation will initially last for three years and will be renewable, with the formal notification setting out the centre’s regional responsibilities and the AU’s corresponding commitments.

Under its expanded mandate, the NCTC is expected to support AU member states through specialised training, research, technical assistance, exchanges of experience and joint analysis of security threats.

The statement said the process began in September 2025, when the AU and the NCTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

A technical assessment mission conducted by the AUCTC in Abuja in December 2025 followed, producing a roadmap outlining the institutional standards required for accreditation.

Since then, the NCTC has worked to strengthen its governance structures, develop training curricula and operational procedures, improve analytical and coordination functions, and reinforce its commitment to human rights and the rule of law.

The statement attributed the successful completion of the requirements to the efforts of ONSA, the centre’s leadership and personnel, and its strategic partners.

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 commended Tinubu for his leadership and sustained investment in Nigeria’s national security architecture, saying the development supported the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the accreditation advanced Nigeria’s ambition to position the NCTC to serve the country, West Africa, the Sahel and the wider African continent.

The National Security Adviser also acknowledged the AU Commission and the AUCTC for their technical support and assessment work, particularly recognising Lallali’s role in the mapping, evaluation and accreditation process.

He praised Laka for his leadership in advancing the process, alongside the NCTC’s officers and staff, security and justice institutions, government agencies, civil society organisations, local communities and international partners.

Ribadu said the Federal Government and ONSA would continue supporting the centre through appropriate staffing, sustainable funding, institutional partnerships and compliance with accreditation standards.

The accreditation gives Nigeria’s counter-terrorism institution a formal regional role in supporting cooperation among countries facing terrorism and violent extremism across West Africa and the Sahel.

Its potential contribution will depend on effective collaboration with regional partners, sustained institutional resources and the practical implementation of its expanded responsibilities.

The requirement to maintain accreditation standards, including respect for human rights and the rule of law, will also remain important as the centre develops its training, analysis and coordination activities.

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The AU’s decision therefore places the NCTC in a position to contribute more directly to regional counter-terrorism efforts, while creating new responsibilities for Nigeria to sustain the centre’s capacity and effectiveness.