President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the appointment of Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka is the new National Coordinator for the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) within the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Laka takes over from Rear Admiral Musa (Rtd.), who was appointed as the pioneer Coordinator by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022.
The announcement of Laka’s appointment was made on Tuesday through a statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, titled “President Tinubu Appoints New National Coordinator for National Counter-Terrorism Centre.”
Laka brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in various capacities in Nigeria’s North-East region. Additionally, he has served in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the United Nations and participated in the Nigerian contingent in the US AFRICOM exercise in Senegal.
He holds a Master’s Degree in National Security from the National Defence University, Pakistan, and a degree in International Affairs and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Laka’s ability to effectively tackle security threats through preemptive, proactive, and diligent counter-terrorism coordination.
The NCTC, established in 2012 as a directorate in the Office of the National Security Adviser, plays a pivotal role in coordinating national security and counter-terrorism efforts. Former President Buhari inaugurated a new base for the NCTC in Abuja on March 21, 2023, underscoring its significance in national security architecture.