President Bola Tinubu has signed into law the bill establishing the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), a move aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal arms in Nigeria. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, made this announcement on Tuesday during a workshop on gender mainstreaming in efforts to prevent the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and West Africa.
Represented by the Director of External Affairs, Office of the NSA, Am. Ibrahim Babani, Ribadu emphasized that the President’s approval of the bill marks a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to tackling illegal arms circulation. This legislative support will strengthen the NCCSALW’s mandate and enable more coordinated and decisive actions to combat the issue.
Ribadu highlighted the importance of integrating gender perspectives in the fight against small arms proliferation, referencing key international frameworks like the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. These frameworks emphasize protecting women and children from the impacts of armed conflict and ensuring their active participation in peacebuilding and security efforts.
The NSA commended the National Coordinator and the entire NCCSALW team for their dedication, noting their “invaluable” contributions to addressing the challenge of arms proliferation in Nigeria. He stressed that incorporating gender considerations into security strategies enhances their effectiveness and inclusivity.
DIG Johnson Kokumo (Rtd), National Coordinator of NCCSALW, noted the centre’s recent successes in combatting illegal arms proliferation. On July 1, the centre, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, seized a large cache of illegal weapons and arrested 10 suspects involved in the illicit importation of 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of cartridges. The suspects are currently being prosecuted.
Additionally, Kokumo revealed that the centre had retrieved over 3,383 decommissioned and illicit arms and 26,749 rounds of ammunition from various government agencies. He announced that an arms destruction exercise will be conducted later this quarter to permanently remove these weapons from circulation.
Kokumo emphasized that controlling the flow of small arms and light weapons is not only a national concern but also an international priority, as these weapons fuel violence, instability, and insecurity worldwide. He also reiterated the importance of adopting a gender-sensitive approach to disarmament, given the severe impact of armed conflict on women and children.
