Efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to violent extremism have gained fresh momentum as key stakeholders intensify moves to localise the country’s Policy Framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP).
The initiative, spearheaded by the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (PCVE-KIRH) of the PAVE Network in collaboration with the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA) and partners, is focused on translating national policy into actionable strategies at the state level.
At a high-level virtual consultative forum held on Wednesday, more than 60 participants drawn from federal and state institutions, civil society organisations, and technical working groups deliberated on practical pathways to strengthen implementation across the country.
Chairman of the PAVE Network, Jaye Gaskia, noted that the engagement builds on over a year of pilot interventions aimed at bridging the gap between national frameworks and subnational realities. He explained that the current focus has shifted from mere “domestication” of policies to full localisation, enabling states to adapt strategies to their unique socio-political and security contexts.
He emphasised that states must take ownership by identifying priority areas, developing tailored action plans, and establishing coordination mechanisms suited to their environments. Gaskia further highlighted the role of Technical Working Groups, particularly in the North-West, as critical platforms bringing together government actors, civil society, and community stakeholders to drive implementation.
Speaking at the forum, the Principal Staff Officer of the PCVE Directorate at NCTC-ONSA, Ms Iye Mangset, commended the growing collaboration among stakeholders. She recalled that the PF-NAP, initially developed in 2017 and recently revised in 2025, has been updated to reflect evolving security dynamics.
According to her, the revised framework is structured around six core pillars: institutionalisation and mainstreaming of PCVE; access to justice; capacity building for individuals and communities; strategic communication; research, documentation and learning; and gender mainstreaming. She stressed that the immediate priority is effective implementation at the state level and urged sustained commitment from all partners.
Also contributing, the National Coordinator of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) Nigeria, Yetunde Adegoke, underscored the importance of consolidating gains made over the past year through continuous engagement and forward-looking strategies.
Similarly, a Partner at Nextier, Dr Ndubisi Nwokolo, called for a shift from reactive, force-based responses to more proactive, non-coercive approaches. He noted that addressing violent extremism requires tackling underlying drivers such as governance deficits, inequality, and social exclusion, adding that the phenomenon is increasingly localised and demands context-specific solutions.
Discussions at the forum revealed that while progress has been made in establishing state-level PCVE structures and action plans, significant challenges persist. Participants identified weak inter-agency coordination, bureaucratic bottlenecks, inadequate funding, overdependence on donor support, and inconsistent political will as major impediments.
State representatives also highlighted ongoing initiatives, including stakeholder engagements, early warning systems, and community-based interventions, but noted that these efforts often operate in isolation. They called for greater alignment and sustained political commitment to ensure uniform implementation.
A key takeaway from the deliberations was the risk posed by fragmented responses, which allow extremist groups to exploit gaps across regions. Participants stressed the need for a coordinated national and subnational approach to prevent setbacks arising from the displacement of threats.
To address these gaps, stakeholders advocated stronger alignment between federal and state efforts, formal institutionalisation of Technical Working Groups as State Coordination Committees, integration of PCVE into broader security and development plans, and the provision of dedicated budgetary allocations by state governments.
The forum also highlighted the importance of strategic communication in countering extremist narratives and fostering public trust. A national communication strategy developed under the framework is expected to be launched alongside the revised PF-NAP.
Participants further emphasised the need to prioritise community engagement, youth inclusion, and early warning systems as central components of implementation.
While expressing optimism that increased state participation and strengthened partnerships will enhance Nigeria’s capacity to counter violent extremism, stakeholders cautioned that sustained success will depend on political will, adequate funding, and coordinated action across all levels of government.
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment by participants to deepen collaboration and transition from policy formulation to measurable impact at the community level.
