By Milcah Tanimu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the African Counter-Terrorism Summit at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja on Monday. The summit, organized by Nigeria in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, is slated to span two days, from Monday to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

Under the theme “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism,” President Tinubu has taken decisive steps to combat terrorism in the country. The summit aims to bolster multilateral cooperation against terrorism and reshape the international community’s collective response to terrorism in Africa, with a focus on African-led and African-owned solutions.

According to a statement from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the summit seeks to assess the nature and severity of terrorism threats on the continent and agree on strategic priorities and measures to tackle this menace effectively.

Furthermore, the summit aims to promote deeper regional collaboration, enhance member states’ institutional capacity, and facilitate the exchange of best practices to combat terrorism in Africa. It is expected to draw heads of state and government, high-level officials from across Africa, representatives of international organizations and multilateral institutions, diplomats, and civil society groups.

Notable attendees include Ms. Amina Mohammed, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, who will grace the event with her presence. The summit will conclude with remarks from Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism at the UNOCT, underscoring the significance of collaborative efforts in combating terrorism across the African continent.