The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka has called for stronger regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and enhanced border security to counter terrorism and transnational organized crimes in West Africa.
He made this call at a two-day regional dialogue held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The event, organised by the NCTC in collaboration with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), focused on “Strengthening Capacity and Promoting Efficiency in the Implementation of the Accra Initiative.”
The dialogue brought together senior officials from KAIPTC, security experts, and representatives from member states to deliberate on strategies for tackling security challenges in the region.
Regional Cooperation
General Laka stressed that securing ungoverned and porous border areas is crucial to preventing the spread of terrorism and violent extremism into coastal West African nations.
He reiterated that “the Accra Initiative, established in 2017, serves as a collaborative security framework among seven West African countries, with Nigeria participating as an observer nation.”
“The initiative focuses on information sharing, intelligence cooperation, training, and cross-border military operations to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel and address transnational organised crimes,” General Laka said.
He explained that to achieve these objectives, it is vital for regional stakeholders to enhance collaboration and implement effective counterterrorism measures.
“This regional dialogue provides a platform for deliberating on common security challenges and gaps in implementing the Accra Initiative,” he stated.
Counterterrorism Efforts
The dialogue also focused on modernising counterterrorism strategies, enhancing intelligence networks, and increasing resource allocation to security operations.
General Laka called on participating nations to remain committed to strengthening border security, improving surveillance, and fostering intelligence-driven responses to security threats.
Security Challenges
The Director of the Research Department at KAIPTC, Dr. Emma Birikorang highlighted that the threat of terrorism, violent extremism, and other transnational crimes in West Africa continues to evolve, requiring a unified approach.
She noted that criminal organisations are forming stronger alliances, making regional collaboration even more critical.
“We are truly grateful for the collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre. We are hoping to sign an MOU with the Centre in due course, as the threats to peace and security demand more research to generate knowledge, support policymakers, and build capacities of both state and non-state actors,” Dr. Birikorang said.
The event underscored the urgency of sustained cooperation, research-driven policies, and strategic military engagements to counter the growing threat of terrorism and transnational crimes in the region.
The Ghanaian Ministry of Defence established the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in 1998 to share Ghana’s extensive experience in peace operations with other West African and African states.
KAIPTC continues to play a vital role in strengthening regional security through capacity building, strategic training, and policy research to support counterterrorism efforts.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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