Abuja: The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has tasked strategic commanders across the security forces to innovate and work collaboratively in the ongoing counter-terrorism initiatives. Gen. Musa delivered this directive at the opening of the Strategic Commanders Course, which was organized by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the UK High Commission.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gen. Musa emphasized the critical role that strategic-level leaders from the armed forces, security agencies, and various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) play in addressing crisis situations. He noted that these leaders are required to make difficult decisions, think critically, and act decisively. The course aims to enhance their perspectives and competencies to respond effectively to crises, urging them to adopt a whole-of-society approach in tackling security challenges.
The National Coordinator of the NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, highlighted the importance of involving non-state actors in counter-terrorism efforts due to the evolving and unpredictable nature of terrorist tactics. He stressed the need for stakeholder engagement and the importance of training personnel to be proactive in managing terrorist-induced crises. Laka stated that crisis management requires flexibility, anticipation, preparation, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, represented by Brig. Tom Harper, the Defence Adviser, mentioned the 2024 defence partnership signed between the UK and Nigeria. Montgomery explained that the training is designed to improve multi-agency command and control at strategic, operational, and tactical levels. The course will introduce participants to the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JECIP) principles used in the UK, which are continually refined based on experiences with terrorist incidents.
The inaugural course aims to lay the groundwork for two additional planned courses to prepare commanders at all levels to respond effectively and efficiently to terrorist or crisis incidents.