NDC Inaugurates Landmark Counter-Terrorism Financing Course in Abuja
In a strategic move to choke the financial lifelines of insurgent groups, the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, has officially inaugurated the Operational Level Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Regional Security Course 2 (CFTRSC-OPL2).
The five-day intensive programme, which commenced on Monday, 18 May 2026, is taking place at the Paul Dike Hall, Abdulsalam Abubakar Building, NDC, Abuja. It is scheduled to run through Friday, 22 May 2026.
The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, was ably represented at the inauguration by Commodore AN Umaru, the Director of Academic Research and Analytical Support. The ceremony brought together top military officers from the Armed Forces, personnel from various security agencies and representatives from both governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Cutting off the Lifelines of Terror
Upon arrival, the representative of the Commandant was received by Professor AO Ahmed, the Provost of the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies. In his welcome address, Professor Ahmed outlined the core aims and objectives of the course, identifying terrorism financing as the most critical threat currently facing the West African sub-region and the African continent at large. ”Terrorism relies heavily on financial oxygen,” Professor Ahmed emphasized. “Without steady financial support from various illicit streams, terrorist networks cannot sustain their operations. They would be unable to procure critical logistics, including arms, ammunition, and fuel.”
The Provost further highlighted that contemporary terror networks exploit diverse and sophisticated funding streams, including illicit drug trafficking, ransom from kidnappings, and the smuggling of small arms and light weapons. He specifically lauded the participation of representatives from various financial institutions, enjoining them to implement stricter, proactive measures to detect and flag suspicious financial transactions.
A Call for Collaborative Action
Delivering the keynote remarks, Rear Admiral A Ahmed (represented by Commodore Umaru) commended the organizers for putting together the timely seminar and reaffirmed the NDC’s unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at regional stability.
The Commandant reiterated that terrorism financing remains a fluid and significant threat to Africa. He noted that dismantling these networks requires more than traditional military approaches. He therefore called for:
- Dynamic Exchange of Security Intelligence: Enhanced cross-border and inter-agency data sharing.
- Leveraging Emerging Technologies: Deploying modern tech tools and blockchain analytics to track illicit digital financial footprints.
- Active Civic Participation: Fostering a collaborative environment where well-meaning citizens report suspicious activities within their communities.
The CFTRSC-OPL2 course is expected to equip participants with actionable operational skills, fostering robust inter-agency collaboration to effectively disrupt the financial architectures of terrorist organizations across the region.
