Comparative Analysis of Nigeria’s Counterterrorism Strategy (NACTEST) in Light of the United States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Kenya’s Strategy

Terrorism presents a persistent security challenge to both developed and developing states. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, countries such as the United States, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia have adopted comprehensive counterterrorism frameworks to address evolving threats. Nigeria introduced its National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) under President Goodluck Jonathan, structured around five pillars: forestall, secure, identify, prepare, and implement. This paper undertakes a comparative assessment of NACTEST and the counterterrorism approaches of the United States, Kenya, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on their achievements, strengths, and limitations. Relying on secondary data and content analysis, and guided by protracted social conflict theory, the study finds that although NACTEST is conceptually robust, its implementation effectiveness lags behind the models adopted in the comparator countries. The analysis highlights Saudi Arabia’s deradicalization-centered approach as particularly relevant for Nigeria, given the socio-religious similarities with Nigeria’s northern region. The paper recommends adapting elements of the Saudi model to strengthen NACTEST’s preventive and rehabilitative capacities.