The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in partnership with the British High Commission, has commenced four specialised capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s counterterrorism response, intelligence capabilities and incident management framework.
The combined opening ceremony of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Incident Commanders’ Courses alongside the Advanced Intelligence Analysis Course was held on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the National Coordinator of the NCTC the Director Intelligence, Brig Gen Peter Gbor described the training as a significant milestone in enhancing Nigeria’s preparedness for emergency response, crisis management and coordinated counterterrorism operations.
He noted that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Incident Command Courses are designed to equip participants with strategic, operational and tactical leadership skills required to effectively manage emergencies and major incidents through structured command systems.
According to him, the courses will strengthen participants’ decision-making abilities, promote multi-agency collaboration and improve crisis management proficiency, enabling security agencies to respond more effectively to national emergencies.
“The participants are expected to understand the strategic, operational and tactical concepts applicable to various emergencies and major incidents, while mastering crisis management techniques that will strengthen Nigeria’s national emergency preparedness, inter-agency coordination and incident management framework,” he said.
The National Coordinator also highlighted the importance of the Advanced Intelligence Analysis Course, describing it as a critical component in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and other emerging security threats.
He explained that the course would expose participants to modern intelligence collection, fusion and analysis methodologies that would enhance intelligence sharing across Nigeria’s security and intelligence community.
Given the country’s evolving security landscape, he stressed that the knowledge acquired would directly contribute to strengthening national security, peace, stability and socio-economic development.
He commended the British High Commission for its continued partnership with the NCTC, particularly for providing expert resource persons to facilitate the training, while also appreciating the Centre’s staff for successfully organising the programmes.
The National Coordinator urged participants to actively engage throughout the 10-day training, participate in classroom exercises and maximise the opportunity to improve their professional competencies.
Also speaking, the Regional Coordinator of the Joint Counter Terrorism Training and Advisory Team (JCTTAT), British High Commission, Ian Tyler, represented by Anthony Francis, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism capability through sustained training and strategic cooperation.
Francis said the four programmes—the Intelligence Analysis Course, Strategic Incident Command Course, Tactical Incident Command Course and the newly introduced Operational Incident Command Course—were developed following close consultations with the NCTC and frontline security agencies to address operational realities.
He explained that the new operational command course was specifically designed to equip officers on the frontline with practical tools to coordinate responses, communicate effectively during crises and ultimately save lives.
According to him, the worsening security situation across the Sahel underscores the importance of stronger national coordination, effective command structures and trusted international partnerships.
“The threats faced across the Sahel continue to grow in scale, complexity and ambition. Instability, terrorism, organised crime and violent extremism do not respect borders. Strong national coordination, effective command structures and trusted partnerships are no longer optional—they are essential,” he stated.
Francis also highlighted the enduring strategic relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that both countries recently reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in trade, investment and security during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026—the first by a Nigerian President in 37 years.
He observed that security remains the foundation for sustainable economic prosperity, stressing that collaborative efforts between both countries continue to support regional stability.
Drawing from the extensive operational experience of the training team—including lessons from the Northern Ireland conflict, the 2005 London Tube bombings, the 2017 Manchester Arena attack and various military operations—Francis encouraged participants to leverage both the expertise of the instructors and the experiences of fellow participants.
He emphasised that the skills acquired during the programmes would enhance coordination, intelligence-led decision-making and command effectiveness beyond the forthcoming Exercise Rapid Response scheduled for September, while strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness to prevent, respond to and recover from terrorist incidents.
He concluded by expressing confidence that the knowledge gained would translate into improved frontline operations and contribute significantly to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians.
