By Solomon OKPO
ABUJA, As extremist threats in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region become increasingly complex and adaptive, security experts, government officials, and civil society leaders have called for a unified, community-driven approach to countering violent extremism.
Speaking at the opening of the inaugural National Summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) on Thursday in Abuja, Major-General Adamu Laka (rtd.), National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), warned that extremist groups are merging ideological motives with organized crime, exploiting local grievances, and using digital platforms for radicalization.
“Nigeria’s revised Policy Framework and National Action Plan now places emphasis on prevention, building societal resilience, and deepening local engagement,” Laka said. “This is not a challenge that any single agency can tackle alone. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.”
The three-day summit, organized by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) in collaboration with the PAVE Network and supported by the NCTC, brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders — from security agencies and government representatives to grassroots organizations and international partners.
In a goodwill message, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), emphasized that violent extremism is evolving and increasingly difficult to contain. “This threat is mutating. It feeds off vulnerabilities, disrupts development, and threatens our national cohesion,” he said, urging stakeholders to remain vigilant and committed to long-term solutions.
Echoing this sentiment, Jaye Gaskia of the PAVE Network stressed the importance of empowering communities as the frontline defense against radical ideologies. “Communities must be at the center of our response,” Gaskia said. “Civil society brings local knowledge, credible counter-narratives, and deep youth engagement—crucial tools in the fight against extremism.”
Participants at the summit underscored the need for sustained investment in livelihoods, reintegration initiatives, climate-resilient development, and grassroots-driven peacebuilding as long-term strategies to curb the spread of violent ideologies.
Key resolutions from the summit are expected to influence future policy and operational strategies, positioning Nigeria and the Sahel to better adapt to the shifting nature of extremist threats.
Notable attendees included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, along with representatives from international development agencies, traditional institutions, and youth networks.
