The recent appointment of retired Rear Admiral Yaminu Ehinomen Musa as the pioneering coordinator of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) was described by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Badinson Security Services as “a square pin in a square hole”. Mr. Matthew Ibadin, just as he challenged Musa to develop new and workable countermeasures against terrorists.
Speaking to some journalists, including members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, in Lagos recently, Ibadin noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Musa for the position depends on the former naval chief’s professionalism and experience.
The NCTC is established within the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA) as the focal point for harmonizing all counter-terrorism and terrorist financing efforts in the country.
The NCTC is equally tasked with coordinating counter-terrorism policies, strategies and plans and assisting in the performance of National Security Adviser (NSA) duties under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
According to Ibadin, the enormous responsibility of coordinating counter-terrorism issues in a terrorist-ravaged country like Nigeria cannot be placed on a man of lower pedigree, so “Rear Admiral Musa” fits because the experience is on his side.
Among other things, he therefore advised the head of the NCTC to ensure that the permeability of Nigeria’s borders becomes more permeable than ever; with possible severe sanctions against border guards who jeopardize their responsibilities should be seriously considered.
The Security Advisor has also indicated that as part of measures to nip in the bud the infiltration of terrorist elements into the civilian population with a view to cell formation, more intelligence personnel should be deployed to interstate car parks and transport trucks (trailers/trucks ) that transport goods from one country to another.
Badinson’s security chief has also recommended strengthening local vigilante groups in various communities, particularly in terror-prone areas, with the necessary logistics and funding to generate the necessary intelligence needed to nip some terrorist activity in the bud.
He also provided useful insight that the new NCTC chief should set up a local intelligence unit, only he suggested they up their game in training and retraining personnel charged with the responsibility of handling sensitive equipment Entrusted to detecting terrorists is weapon of mass destruction that can devastate society.
Due to the permeable nature of our borders, a paradigm shift from physical security to electronic fencing as practiced in advanced climates is required.
Prior to his appointment, Musa had served as director of the Counter Terrorism Directorate at the Office of the National Security Adviser since 2017.
He was responsible for reviewing the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) and creating the policy framework and National Action Plan to Prevent and Counter Violent Extremism (PCVE), which President Buhari enacted in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
The retired Navy chief had also served as Nigeria’s representative at the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) for the past three years.
