President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated a firm commitment to tackling the proliferation of illegal arms by signing into law a bill establishing the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW). National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, lauded the president’s move as a “major milestone” in curbing the spread of small arms, which has fueled violence and instability in Nigeria and across the West African region.
Speaking at a workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Preventing the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ribadu, represented by Amb. Ibrahim Babani, Director of External Affairs at the Office of the NSA, said, “The legislative backing strengthens the centre’s mandate and paves the way for more coordinated and decisive action.”
Ribadu also stressed the importance of gender mainstreaming in the fight against small arms and light weapons (SALW), highlighting international frameworks like the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which protects women in conflict zones and ensures their participation in peacebuilding. “The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of SALW cannot be overstated as it strengthens our strategies and ensures that our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable,” he said.
The workshop, organized by NCCSALW, also heard from its National Coordinator, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, who noted recent achievements. “On July 1, we retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service, leading to the arrest of 10 suspects involved in illicit importation,” Kokumo said, adding that the suspects are being prosecuted.
He further revealed that NCCSALW has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned, obsolete, and illicit small arms, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition from government agencies. Kokumo emphasized the centre’s commitment to destroying recovered arms in an upcoming exercise, stating, “This is a critical step in ensuring that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation.”
Kokumo also underscored the devastating impact of illegal arms, especially on women and children, calling for a gender-sensitive approach to disarmament. “This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for Small Arms and Light Weapons control,” he added.
