The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has announced plans to destroy over 30,000 firearms and ammunition by the end of September 2024. This step is part of efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal arms in Nigeria and the West African region.
At a workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Coordinator of the NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Retd.) Johnson Kokumo, revealed that a total of 30,132 weapons, including 3,383 arms and 26,749 rounds of ammunition, would be destroyed. These items have been recovered, decommissioned, and deemed unserviceable.
“The National Centre has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned, unserviceable, obsolete, and illicit small arms and 26,749 various calibres of ammunition from government agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, and others,” Kokumo stated.
He further explained that the destruction of these weapons is crucial to permanently removing them from circulation.
The arms set for destruction were collected from several security agencies, including the Defence Headquarters, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Customs Service, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others.
Kokumo emphasized that controlling the flow of small arms is a matter of both national and international importance, citing the devastating impact of illegal weapons on global security.
“The illegal flow of small arms and light weapons fuels violence, instability, and insecurity in various parts of the world. The most traumatic effects of these crises usually befall women and children,” he said.
The workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in preventing the spread of small arms and light weapons. Kokumo stressed the importance of involving women in disarmament and security policies, noting that a gender-sensitive approach is necessary to address the specific impact of armed conflict on women and children.
“Gender mainstreaming in arms control is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move,” he said.
Speaking at the event, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent assent to the bill establishing the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. Ribadu, represented by the Director of External Affairs, Ibrahim Babani, noted that the legislation provided a strong mandate for the NCCSALW to take more coordinated and decisive actions against illegal arms proliferation.
“This legislative backing is a major milestone in the government’s commitment to curbing the spread of illegal arms,” Ribadu said, affirming the government’s dedication to improving national security and stability.