The Nigeria Police Force has taken another step towards strengthening the country’s security architecture with the conclusion of the final phase of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) Curriculum Development Workshop for personnel of its Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Command.
The workshop, hosted by the Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN Command, CP Hauwa Ibrahim, was organised in partnership with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Major Brittany Brown led the DTRA delegation, while Mrs. Pamela West headed the ONSA team.
The training marked the completion of a series of Train-the-Trainers programmes aimed at institutionalising a national curriculum on countering weapons of mass destruction across security agencies. The initiative is expected to improve Nigeria’s preparedness to prevent, detect, investigate and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, described the programme as a strategic investment in the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
He said the changing nature of global security threats demands continuous training and preparedness, stressing that effective collaboration among security agencies and international partners remains vital to protecting the nation.
The DIG also conveyed the appreciation of the Inspector-General of Police to DTRA, ONSA, facilitators and partner agencies for their continued support, noting that their technical expertise and capacity-building efforts have significantly strengthened the Force’s ability to safeguard lives, protect critical infrastructure and respond to emerging threats.
He urged participants to make the most of the training and ensure that the knowledge acquired is shared across the Force, adding that the curriculum should become a permanent feature of training for EOD-CBRN personnel.
Speaking on behalf of the EOD-CBRN Command, officials expressed gratitude to DTRA and ONSA for their collaboration in developing and implementing the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to incorporating the curriculum into the Nigeria Police Force’s training system to equip officers with the skills needed to tackle evolving CBRN and weapons of mass destruction threats.
It also expressed optimism that the partnership would continue through the provision of specialised equipment, technical assistance and advanced training to further enhance the operational effectiveness of the EOD-CBRN Command.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships, promoting professional development and enhancing institutional capacity to effectively combat emerging security threats in line with global best practices.
