The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has reinforced its commitment to strengthening the nation’s capacity to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) and explosive threats through the successful conclusion of the final phase of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) Curriculum Development Workshop.
The workshop, organised for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Command, was hosted by the Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN Command, CP Hauwa Ibrahim, in collaboration with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The DTRA delegation was led by Major Brittany Brown, while the ONSA team was headed by Mrs. Pamela West. The programme marked the culmination of a series of Train-the-Trainers workshops designed to institutionalise the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum across participating security agencies and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against emerging CBRN and explosive threats.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Operations, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, described the initiative as a strategic investment in enhancing the operational readiness of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to DIG Nadada, the evolving nature of Weapons of Mass Destruction threats demands that law enforcement agencies remain proactive, highly trained, and operationally prepared. He stressed that sustained inter-agency cooperation and strong international partnerships are critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s national security.
The DIG also conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police to the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, facilitators, and other partner agencies for their unwavering support in strengthening the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force.
He noted that the technical expertise, training support, and knowledge transfer provided by the partners have significantly enhanced the Force’s ability to protect lives, secure critical national infrastructure, and effectively respond to evolving security challenges.
DIG Nadada urged participants to maximise the opportunity presented by the workshop by demonstrating professionalism, dedication, and commitment to excellence. He further charged them to cascade the knowledge and skills acquired to other personnel, ensuring that the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum becomes a permanent component of the EOD-CBRN Command’s training framework and improves operational effectiveness across the Force.
In a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of the EOD-CBRN Command, the Command expressed appreciation to DTRA and ONSA for their invaluable partnership in developing and implementing the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to fully integrating the curriculum into the Nigeria Police Force’s training system to equip officers with the specialised competencies required to effectively tackle emerging CBRN and Weapons of Mass Destruction threats.
It also expressed optimism that the strategic partnership would continue to expand, particularly in the areas of specialised equipment, technical assistance, and advanced capacity-building initiatives aimed at further strengthening the operational capabilities of the EOD-CBRN Command.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to advancing professional training, enhancing institutional capacity, and fostering strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders to effectively address emerging security threats and contribute to national and global security in line with international best practices.
