By Emmanuel Obisue
Federal Government has intensified efforts to confront the growing threat of terrorists’ exploitation of new and emerging technologies, Major General A.G. Laka, National Coordinator, Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre, NCTC, Office of the National Security Adviser, stated on Monday.
Laka made this disclosure at the launch of the second CT TECH+ National Workshop on ‘Assessing Threats and Developing Counter-Terrorism Responses’, held at the NCTC in Abuja on Monday.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the workshop, organized in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, INTERPOL, and the European Union, focused on the urgent need to counter terrorist use of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, encryption, and digital platforms for criminal purposes.
Speaking at the opening session on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Coordinator of the Centre underscored Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening national security through inclusive, multi-sectoral engagement. “As terrorists increasingly exploit digital platforms, encryption, unmanned systems, and Artificial Intelligence, our ability to anticipate, assess, and mitigate these threats becomes a national imperative,” he declared.
He further emphasized that the workshop builds on the success of the first national session in July, which focused on Nigeria’s law enforcement capabilities in countering terrorism with new technologies. The current programme shifts the dialogue to identifying threats and shaping policies and operational responses.
The National Coordinator praised the “depth and inclusivity” of the workshop agenda and urged participants to engage fully in the deliberations, noting that the recommendations will strengthen the country’s resilience against technological threats.
Also speaking at the event, Zissimos Vergos, Charge d’Affairs, European Union Delegation to Nigeria, reiterated the bloc’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in confronting evolving terrorist threats through stronger cooperation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. He stressed that the threats posed by technology to security, governance, and human rights require a united front, backed by global partnerships and a firm respect for the rule of law.
“What we are experiencing around the world right now is an affront to global security, regional security, national security, local security, to the economy, to the foundations of democracy, to the foundation of human rights, fundamental rights, the rule of law, the peaceful coexistence,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s growing cyber defense capabilities and the synergy provided by such workshops remain critical in countering asymmetric threats.
In her remarks, Kimairis Toogood, representative of the United Nations, UN reaffirmed the UN’s strong partnership with Nigeria in addressing the risks of new technologies being exploited by terrorists. She commended the National Counter Terrorism Centre, INTERPOL, and the European Union for prioritizing the initiative, stressing that the outcome of the workshop would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework while aligning with global human rights standards.
“The threats are evolving faster than our ability to respond, presenting serious challenges to law enforcement and national security agencies globally,” she warned, noting that artificial intelligence, encrypted communications, and virtual assets have increasingly become tools for radicalization, financing, and attacks. She emphasized that through CT TECH+ and similar initiatives, the UN remains committed to supporting Nigeria in building sustainable, rights-based responses to these complex challenges.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the CT TECH+ Initiative, a two-year joint programme of the UN and INTERPOL funded by the European Union, supports states in addressing the evolving risks of terrorist use of emerging technologies.
With the participation of policymakers, security agencies, regulators, subject matter experts, and criminal justice actors, the workshop aims to generate actionable recommendations that will feed into Nigeria’s national counterterrorism strategy and review report.
