NIGERIA SUMMIT ON NATIONAL SECURITY 2016


Confronting and containing threats from terrorism and sectarian insurgency.May 25 - 26, 2016 | Abuja, Nigeria


CASADE   •   Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution

SPEAKERS

Welcome

The brutality and viciousness of recent terroristic and sectarian attacks on civilian populations in Nigeria, and around the world were previously unthinkable. The Boko Haram killings in Northern Nigeria, the beheadings by ISIS and their murderous assaults in Paris, and the Al Shabaab slaughters in Kenya, have compelled the international community, and Nigeria in particular, to re-think national security paradigms, prompting a reflection on the difficult questions of how, when and where the next deadly attack would occur.

In Northern Nigeria and in the surrounding regions, Boko Haram has killed and maimed more innocent civilians in the past year than ISIS and Al Shabaab combined. In 2014 alone it killed 6,644 people, surpassing ISIS which killed 6,073, thus making it the deadliest terrorist group in 2014 according to a report by Global Terrorism Index. Mindful that modern terror groups now have at their disposal an array of vectors to choose from in seeking maximal damage to society and critical national infrastructures, public institutions responsible for national defense and security must now devote crucial resources to intelligence gathering, and formulation of strategies to mitigate and counter threats.

This summit, organized as a collaborative effort by the Council on African Security and Development, and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shall serve as a forum for substantive and impactful exchange of information, and discussion of acquired knowledge on domestic security strategies, protection of civilian populations and critical national infrastructures, and how the private sector can assist the government in intelligence-gathering and deterrence. The two-day conference will bring together thought leaders in the public, private and academic sectors to foster dialogue on threats posed by domestic and international terrorist groups, effective counterintelligence, and when muscular intervention is necessary to contain and neutralize such threats.

In addition, thought leaders from the federal and public sectors will explore emerging issues in the domains of cyber operations, airport security, and responsive intelligence policies in several plenary sessions.

PANELISTS

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE SUMMIT

The Nigerian Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies, Security and Law Enforcement Agencies, National Defence College, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, vulnerable and relevant organizations in the private sector, the diplomatic community, NGOs and CSOs, religious leaders, academics, and members of the press.