By Sumaila Ogbaje
The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has convened a high-level private sector consultative dialogue to foster deeper collaboration between government and businesses in preventing and countering violent extremism across Nigeria.
The dialogue, which took place on Friday in Abuja, brought together chief executive officers (CEOs) of entities, investors, traditional leaders and civil society among others.
The National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, said the private sector was indispensable to national security, as terrorism had become “complex, transnational, and technologically sophisticated.”
Laka said the dialogue was historic, being the first formal platform bringing together CEOs, investors, traditional leaders and civil society under one roof to institutionalise cooperation against violent extremism.
According to him, terrorism today threatens financial systems, energy installations, digital platforms, and logistics networks.
“The risks are real, but so also are the opportunities for partnership,” he said.
Laka disclosed that Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy, first developed in 2014, was under review and would be relaunched in October by President Bola Tinubu.
“Alongside this, the NCTC is finalising a 2025–2030 Strategic Plan to consolidate its role as the Regional Centre of Excellence for Counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
“The success of these instruments depends on genuine engagement with stakeholders, especially the private sector.
“Without your active participation, implementation will be incomplete,” he added.
The Managing Director of TAJBank, Mr Hamid Joda, in his goodwill message, said businesses were among the first casualties of terrorism, stressing that insecurity had stalled expansion plans and denied communities job opportunities.
According to him, there are regions where we planned to establish branches and create jobs, but because of terrorist activities, we could not proceed.
This, he said was lost opportunity for both business and the communities.
He recounted a recent experience with a foreign investor who lost interest in Nigeria after receiving news of a terrorist attack during their discussion.
“That single moment reminded me how the perception of insecurity discourages investment. Without peace, the president’s target of massive job creation cannot be achieved,” he said.
The UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, urged stakeholders to consider the gender dimensions of violent extremism in the review of Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework.
She highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls, including abductions, sexual violence, and displacement.
Eyong therefore called for synergy with the country’s forthcoming Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
“Women constitute the majority of those affected by violent extremism, yet they are often excluded from formal peace processes.
“The private sector must also integrate gender perspectives into counterterrorism efforts for better and sustainable impact,” she said.
Also speaking, President of the Professional Insurance Ladies Association , Mrs Abimbola Onakomaiya, said violent extremism was “bad for business” and undermined prosperity.
She said the Nigerian insurance industry was ready to partner with the NCTC in creating opportunities for youth, promoting peace, and supporting recovery in conflict-affected areas.
“The insurance sector—comprising insurers, reinsurers, brokers and loss adjusters—has a role to play not only through financial protection, but also in engaging communities and countering extremist narratives.
“Without peace, businesses cannot grow, and without growth, youth remain vulnerable to exploitation,” Onakomaiya said.
The consultative dialogue is expected to produce concrete recommendations for integrating the private sector into counterterrorism frameworks.
It’s also expected to establish a coordination mechanism with the NCTC, and develop a roadmap for sustained partnership. (NAN)