The West African Action Network on Small Arms- Nigeria (WAANSA-NIGERIA), has called on the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, to constitute a National Stake Holders working group to monitor the implementation of the disbandment of the National Task Force (NATFORCE) on the prohibition of illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapon, Chemical Weapon, and Pipeline Vandalism.
The National Security Council on Thursday disbanded the NATFORCE.
While saying the development will help in checkmating arms in the hands of non-state actors, WAANSA-NIGERIA, an umbrella body of several Civil Society Organizations, said there is a need to monitor the decision to maximally achieve the reason behind the Council’s resolution.
President of WAANSA-NIGERIA, Temitope Lamidi, made the special appeal in an open letter to the President of the federation, Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday.
Lamidi noted that strategies need to be mapped out on how affected personnel will be reintegrated to forestall any attempt of being agent of national destabilization and threat to national security.
The letter read, “The General Assembly of WAANSA Nigeria has received the news of the disbandment of the National Task Force on the prohibition of illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms Ammunition, Light Weapon, Chemical Weapon, and Pipeline Vandalism, today by the National Security Council.
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“While we see it as a wonderful development towards checkmating arms in the hands of non-state actors, we make a special appeal that you direct the National Security Adviser to constitute a National Stake Holders working group to monitor the implementation of this decision to maximally achieve the reason behind the National Security Council’s resolution.
“When mission is unknown, abuse is inevitable. Hence traditional rulers, border community agencies, NOA, and civil society groups must organise themselves with strict monitoring and directives from the National Security Adviser’s office, move into action towards informing Nigerians the importance of this decision, map out strategies on how affected personnel will be reintegrated to forestall their being agent of National destabilization and threat to national security.
“As 2023 elections draw closer, relevant policy decisions like this remain a palpable demonstration of government commitment to national peace. Hence, all hands must be on deck to actualize the positive impact on national security.
“Finally, we appeal to your Excellency, to direct the National Assembly to make funding of our security agencies a legislative priority in the 2023 National Budget, as training, and retraining in line with global best practices is a prerequisite if we must restore peace to the nation.”
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