The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the UK Government, TAG International and other relevant partners held a one-day crime symposium in Abuja on 3 October 2024.
National Coordinator NCTC, Maj Gen AG Laka (Left) and UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever (Right) at the opening ceremony in Abuja
In his remarks, the National Coordinator, NCTC, Maj Gen AG Laka, appreciated the UK government and other partners for their continuous collaboration with Nigeria in combating Serious Organised Crime (SOC) through the PREVENT programme. He added that over the years, the programme had recorded tremendous successes in all implementing states and met its objectives to a large degree.
A cross section of some of the participants at the symposium
According to the National Coordinator, the recent review of the PREVENT Handbook attested to this, noting that the challenges, lessons learned, and best practices encountered during the implementation of the programme have been captured. “As we approach the end of the funding cycle, it behooves us as a Nation and stakeholders to ensure the institutionalisation and sustainability of the programme,” he said.
Participants at the symposium in a group photograph
Gen Laka added that the Crime Symposium creates the much-needed platform for interactions among stakeholders at all levels to engage and deliberate on the approaches, successes and challenges experienced while implementing with a view to escalating the intervention to more states and ensuring its sustainability in the country.
National Coordinator, NCTC, Maj Gen AG Laka flanked by the Director PCVE of the Centre, Amb. Mairo Musa Abbas (Left) and UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever (right), and other dignitaries at the event