By Uzair Adam
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the Bill for the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
The announcement was made during a workshop on gender mainstreaming in efforts to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across Nigeria and the West African sub-region, held on Tuesday in Abuj.
Represented by Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of External Affairs at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ribadu emphasized that the president’s assent marks a key step in curbing the spread of illegal arms in the country.
The legislative backing, he explained, will empower the centre to take more coordinated and impactful actions.
Ribadu also highlighted the significance of incorporating gender perspectives in efforts to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, stressing that women and children are disproportionately affected by armed conflicts.
He referenced international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which advocates for protecting women from conflict-related harm while promoting their involvement in peacebuilding and security measures.
The National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, outlined recent achievements of the centre. Among them, the retrieval of a large cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service on July 1, and the arrest of 10 individuals involved in illegal arms smuggling.
The suspects are currently being prosecuted under various national laws.Kokumo also reported that the centre has recovered over 3,000 decommissioned or obsolete small arms and nearly 27,000 rounds of ammunition from government agencies.
These will be permanently destroyed later this quarter as part of an arms destruction exercise. He underscored the importance of addressing illegal arms flow both nationally and internationally, noting that it contributes to violence and insecurity globally.
He further emphasized the necessity of adopting a gender-sensitive approach in controlling small arms and light weapons, calling it both a moral and strategic imperative given the severe impact of armed conflict on vulnerable populations.
The workshop marks a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into arms control strategies at both national and regional levels.