Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
In furtherance of Nigeria’s joint effort with the international community to combat terrorism, the federal government, yesterday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations (UN) on counterterrorism.
A statement signed by Head, Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, said ONSA and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) signed the MoU to further strengthen counterterrorism efforts in the country.
Both parties said at the signing ceremony in Abuja that the documents were in furtherance of the joint efforts to combat the global menace of terrorism, which remained one of the most complex challenges to the peace, security, and stability of nations around the world.
The parties also “pledged continued collaboration to identify, collect, and disseminate good practices and lessons learned, and explore new opportunities by promoting dialogue and partnership through the development of capacity-building activities”.
National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Rear Admiral YEM Musa (rtd), who represented the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, noted that the two memorandums of understanding signalled a momentous milestone in cementing Nigeria’s partnership with UNOCT towards enhanced collective counter-terrorism efforts.
In his remarks, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, said the MoUs envisaged further cooperation in various areas, including countering terrorist travel, financing of terrorism, border and maritime security, and delivery of counter-terrorism training in Nigeria.
Heads of key implementing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) also attended the signing ceremony.
