By Paul Michael, Abuja
• As Audi pledges support in retrieval of illegal weapons
The National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has called for closer collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to mop-up illegal arms in Nigeria.
National Coordinator of NCCSALW, Maj Gen Abba Dikko (Rtd), made the call during a courtesy call on the Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Gen Dikko said that NCCSALW had been working assiduously to deliver on its mandate. Adding that the Centre is willing to work with the NSCDC and other security agencies to ensure that the illegal arms in possession of unauthorised people were recovered
He commended Dr Audi for his leadership, innovation and direction, particularly in the area of protection of critical infrastructure and national assets across the country.
Gen Dikko called for partnership with NSCDC in the areas of intelligence sharing, data collection and mainstreaming control of arms in the NSCDC’s hierarchy and work environment.
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He stressed that leveraging the existing capacities of NSCDC and other security agencies will go a long way in strengthening coordination and building the capacity of relevant stakeholders on their responsibilities under the small arms and light weapons management paradigm.
While responding, the NSCDC boss lauded the establishment of the Centre, noting that it was in the interest of peace and security as well as crime prevention and control.
He pledged the support of NSCDC to the retrieval of illegal weapons in the country, attributing the current security challenges facing the Nation to the proliferation of illegal arms in the hands of unauthorized persons.
Dr Audi thanked the coordinator and his team for their efforts toward achieving the centre’s mandate.
He expressed delight with the opportunity to support NCCSALW in the discharge of its duties of mopping illicit arms in the country.
The CG expressed NSCDC’s readiness to give full support to the Centre, saying that the fight against illicit arms in the polity was a must and could only be won through collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“There is a need for all security agencies to come together to fashion out new strategies to address this menace. We have to stop the smuggling of weapons and clean up the system by mopping up the ones already in circulation.
“For us in the NSCDC, we are ready to key into the programmes of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons because we are partners in progress,” he said.
He applauded the contribution of the Centre to National Security and assured of a more robust relationship with the center.
Dr Audi emphasized that it was in recognition of the center’s mandate and credibility that the Corps handed over the cache of arms recovered from a criminal hideout in Imo State.
According to him, the weapons handed over include 34 foreign-made semi-automatic guns, 27 double barrel guns, 5 pump actions, 2 sniper rifles and 15 sets of gun cleaning kits.
