The Federal Government has rolled out a new operational framework to strengthen the reintegration of former terrorists and other individuals involved in armed violence as part of efforts to address insecurity through non-military approaches.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, announced the initiative on Monday during the National Validation Workshop on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) held in Abuja.
The framework will guide the implementation of the DDR programme at the federal level and in the pilot states of Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara.
Laka said the new procedures are intended to improve coordination among institutions responsible for the programme, while promoting accountability, transparency and effective collaboration.
According to him, the government recognised that the existing policy framework alone was not enough to drive implementation, making it necessary to develop detailed operational guidelines for agencies involved in the process.
He explained that the SOPs were developed after extensive consultations with stakeholders and were shaped by Nigeria’s security challenges, as well as lessons from international best practices.
Laka added that the procedures clearly define the roles of participating institutions, establish uniform standards for implementing reintegration programmes and strengthen coordination between security agencies and civilian organisations.
“Recognising that a policy framework alone is insufficient to guide implementation, the NCTC and its partners developed a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures to translate the objectives of the National DDR Framework into practical guidance for implementing institutions,” he said.
He noted that the guidelines are expected to support a more coordinated and effective reintegration process, contributing to lasting peace and stability in communities affected by conflict.
