Nigeria and countries in the Sahel must urgently adopt a collective, inclusive, and development-driven response to violent extremism, stakeholders at the National Summit on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) stressed yesterday.
The summit, convened by the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), brought together government, civil society, academia, security agencies, traditional leaders, women, and youth groups.
Speakers at the event warned that violent extremism was no longer confined to specific states or regions but has become a pan-Nigeria threat with cross-border implications.
They noted that extremist groups operate fluidly across territories, exploiting weak governance structures, porous borders, digital technology, and illicit economies such as arms, drugs, and extractive activities.
Highlighting the drivers of extremism, the summit identified extreme poverty, unemployment, lack of access to services, unresolved grievances, and weakened community institutions as major push factors.
It also flagged ostentatious inequality, injustice, rights abuses, and impunity as triggers that fuel radicalisation and recruitment by extremist groups.
In his keynote address, Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. AG Laka noted that extremist groups were using digital platforms for recruitment, propaganda, and radicalisation, which has further removed geographical limits to extremist influence.
Laka, who was represented by Commodore Ahmed Abubakar Madawaki, said the NCTC has adopted a balanced strategy that integrates operational responses with prevention, resilience-building, and respect for the rule of law.
“At the core of this is the revised Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP), which emphasizes prevention, community engagement, and integration into national and subnational development planning,” he said.
Laka noted the challenges, such as institutional fragmentation, inadequate subnational budgets, the complexity of reintegration, and socioeconomic drivers like unemployment and exclusion that fuel vulnerability.
He urged stakeholders to operationalize the validated PF-NAP within six months and domesticate it at state and local levels, adding that they should expand the work of the Knowledge Hub, invest in livelihoods and reintegration programmes, and commit to whole-of-society responses so that prevention of the menace becomes sustainable and community-led.
Chair, National Steering Committee, PAVE Network, Jaye Gaskia, in his opening remarks, stressed that military operations alone cannot address the menace, given the mobile and adaptive nature of violent extremist groups.
He advocated a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach that combines security measures with governance reforms, social justice, youth empowerment, and economic opportunities.
According to him, there was a need for urgent reforms in the Almajiri education system, stronger local government autonomy, and community-led peacebuilding initiatives to build resilience.
He also noted the need for strengthened grievance resolution mechanisms to promote reconciliation and to enhance the participation of women and youth in decision-making.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Director General, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, described the summit as a timely platform to address emerging security threats in Nigeria and the Sahel.
Ochogwu stressed the need for vigilance, innovation, and collaboration in responding to these challenges.
He reaffirmed the IPCR’s commitment to promoting dialogue, building resilience, and supporting evidence-based strategies for sustainable peace.
The DG commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) through the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), as well as the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network, PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH), Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), and ActionAid for advancing inclusive and locally grounded approaches to countering extremism.
He urged participants to use the summit to strengthen partnerships, amplify community voices, and reaffirm their collective resolve to build a Nigeria and Sahel where peace becomes the norm.
