The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has commenced the 2026 Rapid Response 3 Crisis Response Exercise in Asaba, Delta State, as part of efforts to test and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to complex emergencies and security-related incidents.
The five-day multi-agency simulation exercise, which began on Monday, September 7, will run until Friday, September 11, 2026, bringing together relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to assess existing crisis response plans, procedures, coordination mechanisms and operational capabilities.
Speaking during a media briefing in Asaba, Director of the Presidential Command and Control Centre (DPC4-ONSA), Rear Admiral Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, said the exercise was designed to enhance inter-agency cooperation, communication, command and control, rapid deployment and effective management of crisis situations.
He said participating agencies would operate across the three established levels of command Gold, Silver and Bronze in accordance with the crisis response framework contained in the National Crisis Management Doctrine.
According to him, the exercise scenarios were designed to test the ability of participating agencies to respond rapidly, coordinate their efforts and manage the consequences of simulated crises.
Ayo-Vaughan emphasised that the exercise was being conducted in a controlled environment and did not represent an actual emergency or security incident.
He disclosed that the 2026 Rapid Response 3 exercise marked the first time ONSA was conducting its Crisis Response Exercise outside the Federal Capital Territory, attributing the development to the support of the Delta State Government.
The DPC4 director commended Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for supporting the exercise, saying the gesture demonstrated the state government’s commitment to the security of lives and property.
He explained that the exercise locations were carefully selected to provide realistic conditions, adding that reconnaissance operations had been conducted to assess the suitability of the venues and ensure seamless execution.
According to him, the exercise would be conducted in four phases, beginning with the pre-exercise briefing, followed by enabler training for participating components on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday will be the main Exercise Day, or D-Day, while Friday will be devoted to the after-action review, where observations and lessons from stakeholders, observers, exercise planning team members and commanders will be assessed to improve future exercises.
Ayo-Vaughan also warned members of the public not to panic over the movement of security vehicles, personnel, emergency response teams and other assets within designated areas.
He said the public had been adequately informed through SMS and radio messages that such activities were part of the simulation exercise and should not be misconstrued as an actual crisis.
He urged the media to report only verified information and avoid disseminating unconfirmed reports or information capable of causing public panic.
The DPC4 director further disclosed that only accredited media personnel would be allowed to cover the exercise, stressing that the measure was intended to ensure responsible reporting in the interest of national security and public safety.
He said adequate safety and security measures had also been put in place for participants, observers, accredited journalists and members of the public within the exercise areas.
Ayo-Vaughan said the exercise would provide an important opportunity to assess Nigeria’s collective preparedness, strengthen inter-agency coordination and identify areas requiring further improvement in the country’s crisis management architecture.
He called for the cooperation of participating agencies, stakeholders, the media and members of the public to ensure the success of the exercise.
He also expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government, participating agencies, media organisations and other stakeholders for their support, urging residents to remain calm and recognise that activities witnessed during the exercise are simulated strictly for training purposes.
