The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has charged all Strategic-level leaders from the armed forces, security agencies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies to think out of the box and act collaboratively to broaden their perspectives and hone their competencies with regard to responding effectively to crisis situations.
General Musa gave the charge in Abuja, while declaring open Strategic Commanders Course at the prestigious National Counter Terrorism Centre.
The CDS who was he Special Guest of Honour, ably represented by Defence Chief of Training, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shettima tasked them to balance competing priorities, manage complexities and make tough decisions under intense pressure.
He said their roles as strategic-level leaders will require them to make tough decisions, think critically and act decisively. He noted that, they were been specifically selected for the course based on their expertise and the important role they play in the security architecture of the country.
General Musa stressed that today signifies the beginning of a critical journey that will equip them with the requisite skill set to support a strategic operations room and increase their awareness around a multi-agency incident command, including how they can support organisations to respond effectively and collectively to crisis incidents.
"Furthermore, you will be exposed to expert insights from seasoned and experienced resource persons with vast knowledge of the subject matter drawn from home and abroad. You will also have the opportunity to share your experiences, learn from one another and forge lasting relationships which would be critical to the task ahead of you.
"As you embark on this journey, I urge you to proceed with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a commitment to excel. Remember that addressing our security challenges requires a whole-of-society approach and is not limited to the security agencies alone. You must therefore
"I, however, believe in your ability to rise to the task when duty calls, as you navigate the demands of the course. Please note that the knowledge gained would contribute significantly to lasting peace in the Nation, the sub region and the world at large." he said
Also in his remarks, the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Garba Laka in his remarks noted that the aim of this course is to provide strategic commanders with the requisite training required to provide support to their respective strategic operations in the event of a major incident or crisis.
He said it is expected that at the end of the 5 days event, participants would be well informed about multi-agency incident command and how to respond effectively and collectively to such incidents.
Maj. General Laka said managing crises provoked by terrorists involves a blend of anticipation, preparation, organisation, and application.
"Realistic training of personnel involved in crisis management must incorporate the fact that terrorist acts do not occur at the most convenient times. The elements of this kind of crisis management are flexibility and the ability to adapt to fast changing situations.
"Law enforcement agencies need to learn as much as possible about contemporary terrorism. We at the Centre, having realized that the fight against terrorism in Nigeria is complex and requires expertise, have to leverage on the cordial bilateral and multilateral relations that exists between Nigeria and the UK Government for sustainable partnerships that would improve security.
"This event and similar ones conducted in the past are great achievements which resonate deeply with the mission of the National Counter Terrorism Centre and serve as a guide for our work at the Centre.
"Since my appointment in April 2024, by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I recognise the daunting task bestowed on me concerning countering terrorism and I have remained committed to achieving this goal.
"Our experience in counterterrorism over the years have shown that kinetic approaches cannot end terrorism alone. Therefore, we place significant emphasis on non kinetic approaches to counterterrorism, focusing on addressing the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism.
"Through several initiatives, the Centre promotes a "whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach," that integrates efforts across all sectors to reduce the appeal of extremism." he added
Meanwhile, the representative of the British High Commissioner, the UK Defence Adviser, Brigadier Tom Harper said this inaugural course will set the foundation's for two further planned courses that will be delivered to officers to prepare commanders at all levels to react effectively and efficiently in the event of a crisis.
Brigadier Harper noted that the course will refresh participants understanding as senior commanders of each other's respective agencies and how to best use them to prepare and react collectively to serious incidents using all that is available to best effect.
"During the course you will be taught the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Program or JESIP principles that are used or even used today in the UK and have constantly been refined following terrorist incidents we've experienced in our country. Using the JESIP principles" he said.
The Strategic Commander’s course on Crisis Management organised by National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in collaboration with the British High Commission is a follow up to Exercise Crisis Management which took place in November 2024.
Crisis management is the process by which organisations or governments address disruptive and unexpected events that threaten to harm the entity, stakeholders, and the general public. This process involves the strategic planning and execution of actions aimed at mitigating the negative effects of crises, while ensuring that operations continue as smoothly as possible.
