Nigeria Urges Int’l Collaboration To Cut-Off Terrorism Financing
By ABAH ADAH, Abuja
As efforts to overcome the growing challenge of terrorism around the world, the Nigerian National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has identified multilateral collaboration to cut off terrorism financing as the best bet in obstructing the terrorist network for effective and successful fight against the menace of terrorism and violent-extremism.
National Coordinator of NCTC Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, made this known when he received the Secretary-General of Islamic
Islamic Military Counterterrorism Centre (IMCTC) Saudi Arabia, in his office in Abuja on Monday.
Gen. Laka noted that since terrorism is a global threat it must be fought collectively through strong collaborations to obstruct its main source of strength.
He said it is only when countries were able to cut-off terrorism financing that they began to head towards effectively fighting terrorism.
The national coordinator expressed the NCTC’s readiness to partner with the IMCTC in the areas of intelligence sharing, trall and capacity building.
Laka said: “Terrorism is something that affects everyone. It doesn’t know any tribe, religion nor race. So the fight should be collective. And every hand must be on deck to fight this threat.
“This visit is highly valued as it will further solidify the cordial and friendly relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the National Counterterrorism Center and the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Centre in our joint resolve to combat terrorism on a global scale.
“As we all know, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have had a very long standing relationship, not only on the fight field.
“The Kingdom’s role in providing training slots for military officers has been long standing, and we would like that to continue.
“The NCTC is tasked to coordinate all counterterrorism efforts within the country. The center has various directories, as you must have heard, and we get intelligence from various security agencies, analyse them, and direct the appropriate security agency to act.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has played a proactive role in global counterterrorism efforts, particularly through the establishment of the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Centre, which has a significant commitment to its global fight against terrorism. Nigeria will fully support these efforts by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“And we would like to express our readiness to continue to contribute to furthering your missions. I’m aware that four Nigerian officers were with you, two from the army, one from the navy. We are hoping, as we’ve had discussions with the Chief of Defense Staff, the NSA, and even the Minister of Defense on the need, to second another set of officers to the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Centre.
“So there are some important issues like intelligence sharing. As I said earlier, terrorism has no borders. So what could be happening in Saudi Arabia today or anywhere in your region would have a direct or indirect effect on Nigeria.
“So there is a need for us to share intelligence. And the major thing has to do with terrorism financing. If you could cut off their source of financing, then you we are assured of making headway.
“So there is a critical need to combat terrorism financing as a key component of the obstructing terrorist network.
“Another area which we are looking at for that collaboration with the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Centre is the issue of Nigerian high-level counterterrorism missions, which Saudi Arabia was in attendance.”
The National Coordinator said he had secured of over 200 convictions of terrorists over the years, while those who are found innocent went through a rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
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Laka said the Office of National Security Advisor had in April this year held a high-level African counterterrorism meeting Aimed at finding African solutions to African problems.
“At the end of the meeting, the Abuja Declaration was sent to the ECOWAS and the African Union, which they have adopted, and was presented during UNGA, the United Nations General Assembly, and the at the Security Council. And it’s about to be passed.
“So once this centre becomes a regional centre of excellence, we see a regional Centre of Excellence for West Africa and the Sahel,” the general noted.
Soliciting the support of the IMCTC, the centre is going to be concentrated on the non-kinetic means of preventing terrorism, hopefully to take care of West Africa and the Sahel.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of IMCTC said the centre’s membership cut across every country that intend to fight terrorism.
He commended Nigeria government for the establishment of NCTC, which he said, has helped to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.
He assured of the IMCTC readiness to collaborate with NCTC to fight terrorism and violent extremism in the country and across the African continent.