By Enitan Abel Johngold
The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has commenced a five-day multi-agency crisis response exercise in Delta State, in what officials described as a major test of Nigeria’s preparedness to confront complex security emergencies and rapidly evolving threats.
The exercise, codenamed “Rapid Response 3” (RR3) Crisis Response Exercise 2026, which began in Asaba on Monday, September 7, will run until Friday, September 11, bringing together security, emergency management and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The exercise is particularly significant as it is the first crisis response exercise of its kind organised by ONSA outside the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with Delta State becoming the first sub-national jurisdiction to host the exercise.
The exercise is designed to test the country’s existing crisis response plans, procedures and operational capabilities, while examining how effectively participating agencies can coordinate their activities during major emergencies.
It will also assess inter-agency communication and information-sharing systems, command and control arrangements, rapid deployment capabilities and the ability of security and emergency agencies to manage the consequences of simulated crises.
Speaking at the opening ceremony and pre-exercise briefing in Asaba, the Director, Presidential Command and Control Centre (PC4), ONSA, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan Olukayode, said the exercise was being conducted to ensure that relevant crisis-response agencies remained prepared for emerging security challenges.
Representing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ayo-Vaughan said the exercise was an annual simulation intended to test the preparedness of crisis-response MDAs and evaluate the adequacy of their personnel, equipment and operational procedures.
He said the changing nature of terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in the Sahel, made it imperative for Nigeria to continuously review its security plans and prepare for emerging threats.
According to him, terrorists and other violent criminal groups were increasingly adopting tactics designed not only to cause casualties and destroy property but also to create fear, disrupt government operations and undermine the normal functioning of society.
He cited the January 2026 attack on Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger, as an example of the type of emerging threat that security agencies must be prepared to confront. The attack, which targeted an airbase located within the airport complex, involved heavy gunfire and explosions; Nigerien authorities reported that 20 attackers were killed, 11 captured and four soldiers wounded.
The attack was subsequently claimed by Islamic State-linked militants, underscoring concerns about the ability of extremist groups operating in the Sahel to strike strategic and highly sensitive public infrastructure.
Ayo-Vaughan said such developments demonstrated the need for Nigeria to prepare for attacks on critical and public infrastructure, including airports and major transportation corridors.
He noted that while previous ONSA crisis response exercises had been conducted in Abuja, the decision to take the exercise to Delta marked a significant step towards extending national crisis-management preparedness to the sub-national level.
He commended the Delta State Government, participating agencies and members of the exercise planning team for their cooperation in making the exercise possible.
The exercise, according to the organisers, will be conducted as a full-scale crisis response simulation involving three levels of command, Gold, Silver and Bronze — representing strategic, operational and tactical coordination.
Two major scenarios have been designed for the exercise.
The first will take place at Asaba International Airport, while the second will be conducted along the Benin-Asaba Expressway.
The scenarios are intended to test the ability of the participating agencies to respond rapidly, establish effective command structures, share information and coordinate resources in the face of complex emergencies.
Ayo-Vaughan explained that the exercise would provide an opportunity to validate existing crisis-response plans, test established procedures, identify capability gaps and strengthen coordination among participating agencies.
He listed the key objectives as assessing the effectiveness of existing crisis-response plans; testing the capacity of agencies to respond promptly to simulated emergencies; evaluating inter-agency communication and information-sharing mechanisms; testing command and control structures; identifying weaknesses in the national crisis-response architecture and enhancing the practical capacity of personnel.
He stressed that the exercise was not intended to showcase the superiority of one agency over another, but to determine whether Nigeria’s “whole-of-government” crisis response mechanism could function effectively under pressure.
“The objective is not to demonstrate individual agency superiority, but to test the effectiveness of the whole-of-government crisis response mechanism,” he said.
He therefore urged participants to make timely information sharing and effective coordination the guiding principles throughout the exercise.
The ONSA also moved to allay fears among residents of Asaba and surrounding communities over the movement of security personnel, operational vehicles and emergency response teams.
Officials stressed that the activities were simulated exercises and did not represent actual security incidents.
Participants were directed to distinguish between exercise-related activities and genuine emergencies, with real-world incidents to be immediately reported through the appropriate channels.
Ayo-Vaughan also warned that no live ammunition, explosives or hazardous materials would be introduced into the exercise environment.
He urged participants to comply strictly with safety procedures and instructions issued by exercise control officers, stressing that the protection of personnel, members of the public, infrastructure and equipment remained a priority.
The organisers disclosed that public sensitisation measures, including SMS and radio messages, had been deployed to minimise misunderstanding and prevent panic among residents.
The media was similarly urged to rely on verified information when reporting activities connected with the exercise.
In his remarks, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, at the opening ceremony welcomed the exercise, describing it as an important opportunity to strengthen security cooperation and emergency response capacity in the state.
Oborevwori said the state government was pleased that Delta had been selected as the first state outside Abuja to host the national crisis-response exercise.
According to him, the exercise was consistent with the administration’s commitment to strengthening peace, security and effective governance under its MORE Agenda.
He said the state had remained willing to collaborate with federal security and emergency-management institutions to improve the safety of residents and communities.
The Governor particularly emphasised the importance of closer cooperation among security agencies, noting that effective security management could not be achieved when agencies operated in isolated silos.
He said recent security challenges had reinforced the need for stronger relationships, communication and trust among the various security formations operating at the state and local levels.
“Teamwork can only work when everybody sees themselves as one,” he said, stressing that a coordinated team would achieve more than highly skilled agencies operating independently.
Oborevwori also disclosed that Delta was strengthening its own security architecture, including moves to deploy additional forest guards as part of efforts to tackle emerging threats and secure vulnerable areas.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser for measures aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and decentralising security operations.
The Asaba exercise has attracted senior security officials, commanders and representatives of several federal and state agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, intelligence and emergency-response institutions, ministries, departments and agencies.
Strategic partners from the British High Commission, led by Mr Ian Tyler, as well as representatives of the German Technical Advisory Team, including Mr Thomas Eintoneur, are also participating in the exercise.
Their involvement underscores the growing emphasis on international cooperation, technical expertise and the exchange of best practices in crisis management.
For ONSA, however, the central objective remains the ability of Nigerian institutions to operate as a coordinated system when confronted by a major emergency.
The organisers said the exercise would culminate in an after-action review, during which the performance of participating agencies would be assessed, lessons documented and identified weaknesses addressed.
The outcome is expected to provide practical recommendations for improving Nigeria’s crisis-response architecture and strengthening the country’s ability to respond to complex security incidents before they escalate into wider national emergencies.
With the exercise taking place simultaneously around critical locations such as the airport and a major inter-state highway, the organisers are effectively testing not only the speed of response but also the ability of Nigeria’s security and emergency institutions to maintain command, communication and public confidence in the middle of a fast-moving crisis.
The significance of the exercise therefore extends beyond the five-day simulation in Asaba: it represents a test of whether Nigeria’s various security and emergency institutions can respond as one coordinated national system when confronted with a crisis that cuts across institutional and jurisdictional boundaries.