‘For malicious threats and civil emergencies’ — FG unveils doctrine on crisis management

President Muhammadu, on Friday, unveiled the national crisis management doctrine (NCMD).

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, the NCMD is aimed at bridging the gap created by extensive deployment of security services through fostering collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Speaking at the event, Buhari said the NCMD, developed by the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) in coordination with relevant MDAs, would ensure greater successes in tackling national crisis.

The president commended the efforts of Babagana Monguno, national security adviser (NSA), his staff and members of the working group for their efforts in developing the doctrine.

He described the feat as a significant milestone in the recognition of the need for collective efforts towards achieving coordinated, effective and efficient national crisis management.

“This shows the renewed promise and commitment of this administration to managing crisis in the country,” Buhari said.

He urged the ONSA to continue to play its coordinating role among crisis response stakeholders, to achieve greater successes.

Buhari also thanked the British government for its collaboration in the development of the doctrine as well as the United States government for its support, urging them to sustain the relationship.

The president said at the inception of the present administration, Nigeria was faced with multiple security challenges ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, to armed banditry, ethnic militia attacks, oil theft, rape, gun running and various acts emanating from violent extremism.

“The emergence of the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as bandits and kidnappers in Nigeria considerably changed the country’s security situation, leaving panic in the minds of the populace,” he said.

“These and other security challenges confronting the nation tend to stretch the deployment of our security agencies, resources and national security apparatus.

“Owing to the dynamics of these crises, the office of the national security adviser revised the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) which I endorsed in August 2016.

“Within this strategy are certain workstreams which include the prepare-and-implement strands that seek to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks by building resilience and redundancies to ensure continuity of business; and a framework for the mobilisation of coordinated cross-government efforts respectively.

“I am glad that the office of the national security adviser has not relented in its efforts to implement the NACTEST by coordinating relevant ministries, departments and agencies to develop the National Crisis Management Doctrine.”

In his remarks, Monguno explained that work on the doctrine started in 2014, but was given impetus after the president endorsed the revised NACTEST, which has five work streams namely: forestall, secure, identify, prepare and implement.

Monguno said the NCMD, which is a subset of the NACTEST, fulfills the workstreams on preparation and implementation.

“The doctrine provides a detailed methodology for national crises response, outlining how the various relevant MDAs should interact at the strategic, operational and tactical levels,” Munguno said.

“It is to be noted that the NCMD can be used to manage both malicious threats and civil emergencies owing to the general principles set out within it.”