United Nations, Nigeria strengthened collaboration to combat terrorism.
The Federal Government has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to bolster counter-terrorism activities in the nation.
Mr. Zakari Mijinyawa, Head, Strategic Communications, ONSA, said in a statement that the MoUs were signed on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Mijinyawa, the papers further Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with the international community in countering the global threat of terrorism, which remains one of the most complicated threats to the peace, security, and stability of nations worldwide.
He further stated that the parties agreed to continue working together to discover, collect, and distribute best practises and lessons gained, as well as to explore new prospects through encouraging conversation and partnership through the creation of capacity-building initiatives.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was cited in the announcement as stating that the two MoUs marked a watershed point in Nigeria’s collaboration with UNOCT for stronger collaborative counter-terrorism operations.
Ribadu was represented by retired Rear Adm. Yaminu Musa, National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
According to Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, the MoUs envisaged further cooperation in a variety of areas, including countering terrorist travel, financing terrorism, border and maritime security, and the delivery of counter-terrorism training in Nigeria.
The signing event was also attended by the heads of important implementing ministries, divisions, and agencies (MDAs).