Defence
THE National Defence College (NDC) says Nigeria and the wider West African region must urgently strengthen institutional collaboration to counter the growing sophistication of terrorism financing networks.
The Commandant of the NDC, Rear Adm. Abdullahi Ahmed, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja, at the opening of the Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course (Operational Level two).
Ahmed represented by the Director of Academic Research and Analytical Support, Commodore Aliyu Umaru, said the course was designed to bridge institutional divides and enhanced synergy among security, intelligence and regulatory agencies.
He said the programme builds on the Operational Level one course conducted in 2025, which helped validate curriculum frameworks and refined training methodologies.
According to him, terrorism financing in the region has evolved through complex licit and illicit channels, including cyber-enabled transactions, smuggling networks, informal cash systems and transnational criminal enterprises.
He cited regional assessments indicating that extremist groups across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin sustained operations through kidnapping for ransom, illegal taxation, arms trafficking, illicit mining and cattle rustling.
”These realities underscore the urgent need for stronger institutional coordination, intelligence sharing and operational cooperation to dismantle the financial lifelines of terrorism,” he said.
Ahmed stressed that countering terrorism financing could no longer be addressed solely through a ”Whole of Government” approach, but required a broader ‘Whole of Society” framework involving academia, private sector actors and civil society.
He identified key stakeholders in the effort to include the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies, regulatory institutions, MDAs, and select private sector organisations.
The NDC commandant noted that the curriculum for the Operational Level two course had been further refined with inputs from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS), National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), GIABA and other partners.
He said the college remained committed to supporting national and regional efforts through research; training, strategic dialogue and policy support aimed at addressing evolving security threats.
According to him, the programme is expected to deepen operational understanding of terrorism financing networks and strengthen regional security cooperation across West Africa and the Sahel.
The Provost, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, Prof. Adam Ahmed, emphasised the importance of the course, saying that actualisation was more important than going to the field.
According to him, terrorism financing is the core of terrorism and by extension the core of insecurity globally.
”Deny them the funding, and they will seize to exist. Bombs, ammunition, drone, vehicles are expensive and require plenty of money.
“When we had Operational Level one, it was a bang, because for the first time in this country, there was a course on CFTRSC and in designing the course, the curriculum was mandated by people from within the security agency and outside.
“So therefore, if you want to deal with terrorism, cut the root, That is why even this course is more important because if you cut the financing, you don’t even need to go to the field,” he said.(NAN)
A.I
May 18, 2026
Tags: Commodore Aliyu Umaru NDC Rear Adm. Abdullahi Ahmed