STATEMENT: A RESPONSIBLE, MULTI-FRONT APPROACH TO COUNTERING TERRORISM @THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045
202-662-7500
Distinguished delegates,
There are no quick fixes to terrorism. No nation has ever defeated violent extremism with shortcuts, improvisation, or rhetoric. The only path forward is one that is firm, responsible, and comprehensive anchored in justice, development, and respect for international norms.
First, we must confront terrorism with clarity and resolve. The US government in collaboration with the Nigerian Government must act decisively to disrupt networks, secure borders, strengthen policing, and protect vulnerable communities. But firmness must never become recklessness. The rule of law must remain our compass; human rights must remain our guardrails.
Second, defeating extremism requires rebuilding what terror seeks to destroy. Communities devastated by violence need more than sympathy they need roads, schools, hospitals, livelihoods, and the economic stability that gives people a stake in their future. Help Nigeria expand its policing infrastructure, not as instruments of repression, but as engines of trust and partnership with local populations.
Third, we must strengthen our financial capacity to wage a sustained struggle. Opening and deepening US bond markets transparently and responsibly allows nations to raise long-term capital to rebuild infrastructure and restore economic opportunity. Terrorism thrives in places where hope is absent. Development is not a luxury; it is a security imperative.
Fourth, we must follow the money. Every bullet, every improvised explosive, every mercenary, every extremist cell has a financier somewhere. Cutting off the financial arteries of terror is as important as dismantling its operational networks. This means tracking illicit flows, identifying arms suppliers, exposing foreign mercenaries, and confronting transnational actors who profit from instability.
Fifth, the US and the West must accept responsibility for the geopolitical realities of the Sahel regions , no country exists in isolation. Instability in one nation spills into its neighbours. A durable solution requires cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and a frank acknowledgment of the regional dynamics that fuel extremist movements.
And through it all, we must respect the Westphalian principle, the sovereignty of states and the legitimacy of their borders. Any counter-terrorism partnership that ignores national delimitation invites geopolitical tension and undermines trust. Cooperation must never become coercion.
Finally, let us remember that the world is a rainbow planet rich, diverse, and multifaceted. It cannot, and must not, operate on a single narrative. Security cannot be built on narrow judgments, ideological arrogance, or policies that bully in the name of help. Sustainable peace requires listening, humility, and the acceptance that no one nation, bloc, or worldview holds a monopoly on wisdom.
Democracy is failing in West Africa and it is a sacred duty of the United States to insist and be firm in helping to rebuild multi-party democracy.
In this shared struggle, we must be strong but fair, determined but principled, united but respectful of difference. That is the path to security. That is the path to dignity. And that is the path to peace.
Democracy is failing in West Africa and it is a sacred duty of the United States to insist and be firm in helping to rebuild multi-party democracy.
Thank you.
Otunba Segun Showunmi.
