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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Efforts to deepen Nigeria’s response to violent extremism gained fresh momentum as state governments, civil society, and development partners intensified pushes to localise the Policy Framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP).
Led by the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (PCVE-KIRH) of the PAVE Network and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), in partnership with Nextier, SPRING Programme, FCDO, and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), the initiative seeks to turn national policy into actionable state-level strategies.
Over 60 participants from federal and state institutions, civil society organisations, and technical working groups joined a high-level virtual consultative forum on Wednesday to chart implementation pathways.
PAVE Network Chair Jaye Gaskia explained that the forum builds on a year of pilot interventions bridging national frameworks and subnational needs.
“We are deliberately focusing on localisation because this is a national policy that must be adapted to local realities. States must identify their priorities, develop their own action plans, and establish coordination mechanisms that work for them,” he said.
Gaskia highlighted Technical Working Groups in states, especially the North-west, as key implementation vehicles uniting government, civil society, and communities.
Principal Staff Officer of the PCVE Directorate at NCTC-ONSA, Iye Mangset, praised the growing collaboration. She noted the PF-NAP—first launched in 2017 and revised in 2025—now features six pillars: institutionalisation and mainstreaming; access to justice; capacity building; strategic communication; research and learning; and gender mainstreaming.
“We desire to see all partners, especially those from the states, continue to support and sustain this effort so that the framework delivers real impact,” Mangset urged.
GCERF Nigeria National Coordinator, Yetunde Adegoke, stressed continuity to build on past gains, while Nextier Partner Dr Ndubisi Nwokolo called for proactive shifts. “For this to succeed, we must address the root causes of radicalisation. Violent extremism is not just a security issue, it is deeply tied to governance, inequality and social exclusion,” he said.
Nwokolo warned that extremism is increasingly localised, demanding a rethink of assumptions.
Participants warned that fragmented responses let extremists exploit gaps, urging federal-state alignment, elevating Technical Working Groups to State Coordination Committees, PCVE integration into security plans, and state budgets. A national strategic communication plan, set for launch with the revised PF-NAP, will counter narratives and foster trust, with emphasis on community engagement, youth, and early warnings.
Stakeholders expressed optimism for enhanced resilience through localisation but stressed success hinges on political will, funding, and coordination. The forum closed with pledges for deeper collaboration and community-level impact.
