ONSA Mobilises Security, Emergency Agencies for First Crisis Exercise Outside Abuja
By Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria’s national security and emergency response architecture has moved into a major operational test as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) commenced a high-level multi-agency crisis response exercise in Asaba, Delta State, aimed at testing the country’s capacity to confront complex emergencies and security threats.
A press release issued by Adefolarin Faturoti for the Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, on Monday, September 7, 2026, said the 2026 Rapid Response 3 (RR3) Crisis Response Exercise marked the first time the national crisis simulation was being conducted outside the Federal Capital Territory.
The five-day exercise, which began Monday and ends Friday, September 11, has brought together relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, security and emergency response organisations, strategic partners and other stakeholders to test and strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness for complex emergencies and security-related incidents.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation is a key partner in the exercise.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Asaba, the Director, Presidential Command and Control Centre, ONSA, and Director of the Exercise, Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said the exercise was designed to evaluate existing crisis response plans, strengthen inter-agency coordination and identify operational gaps.
“Rapid Response 3 is the codename of the 2026 crisis response exercise organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser,” Ayo-Vaughan said.
He disclosed that RR3 was the seventh national crisis response simulation conducted by ONSA, noting that the previous six exercises were held in Abuja.
According to him, taking the exercise to Delta State would provide an opportunity to test national crisis-response arrangements within a sub-national environment and assess how effectively security and emergency agencies could coordinate outside the nation’s capital.
The full-scale exercise will feature two simulated crisis scenarios to be conducted sequentially at the Asaba International Airport and along the Benin-Asaba Expressway, with participating agencies operating under the Gold, Silver and Bronze command structure established by the National Crisis Management Doctrine.
The exercise will test strategic, operational and tactical coordination, including communication and information-sharing systems, command and control arrangements, operational procedures and the ability of agencies to respond rapidly and effectively to simulated emergencies.
The opening ceremony was attended by Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Eze Emu, alongside senior government officials, security and emergency response commanders, heads of MDAs, strategic partners and members of the media.
ONSA, however, warned residents not to mistake the heightened security activities for a real emergency, stressing that the exercise is a controlled simulation.
Residents are expected to witness increased movements of security personnel, vehicles and emergency response teams around designated areas throughout the exercise.
Ayo-Vaughan consequently appealed to members of the public to remain calm, while urging the media to publish only verified information and avoid reports capable of generating unnecessary public alarm.
He said observations and lessons from the exercise would be documented and used to strengthen Nigeria’s national crisis management architecture and improve the effectiveness of future multi-agency responses to complex emergencies.
