President Bola Tinubu has called for the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism centre that will serve as a hub for intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building throughout Africa.

Speaking at the African High-level Meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Abuja on Monday, the President emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism, not only through military might but by addressing the root causes, including poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

This was disclosed in a statement by Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday.

Tinubu stated that Africa must take a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism, not only through might, but by addressing the root causes of the scourge, which include poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

The President further stressed the importance of cutting off the financial lifelines that fuel terrorist activities, such as ransom payments and illegal mining operations.

He said, “Billions upon billions of dollars that legitimate governments should be using to sculpt better societies by providing education, healthcare, and food for its people now go to pay for weapons and response to mayhem.”

Tinubu also called for the international community’s support in addressing these issues, saying, “The international community has both the moral and legal obligation to help in this cause because it is external finance, not African money, that fuels these illegal operations. We shall be knocking on the door of the international community to answer this call for justice, peace, and fair play.”

Emphasising the urgency of establishing a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre, the President stated, “Key to our collective efforts against terrorism is the urgent need for a fully operational Regional Counter-Terrorism Centre.”

However, he added that existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit in Abuja, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism in Algiers, and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa in Addis Ababa, must also be strengthened.

Tinubu underscored the importance of a regional standby force with a mandate to tackle terrorism, declaring, “It must not be abandoned.” He acknowledged the funding, legal, and logistical complexities but emphasised the need for progress towards this goal.

Highlighting Nigeria’s efforts, the President stated, “We have and will continue to take bold steps forward in safeguarding our nation and the wider region. Dedicated to coordinating and implementing counter-terrorism strategies, the NCTC significantly enhances our capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to terrorist threats.”

The President also commended the courage and dedication of Nigeria’s security forces in the fight against terrorism and emphasised the need to halt the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons on the continent.

Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with regional partners to strengthen arms control measures, enhance border security, and disrupt illicit trafficking networks that fuel terrorism and organised crime, urging firm and expeditious actions against prevailing insecurity on the continent.