• Tasks CSOs to collaborate with govt to tackle menace
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd) has said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is a major cause of the alarming upsurge in insecurity and criminal activities in the country.
The NSA stated this Thursday while presenting a keynote address at a one-day interactive session with relevant Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
The event with the theme ‘Harnessing the Capacities of the Civil Society Towards Promoting an Illicit Arms-free Society in Nigeria’, was organized by the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) to fashion a roadmap towards the eradication of illicit firearms in the hands of unauthorized persons.
Gen Monguno, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Amb Ahmed Muhammed, said the event was part of many multilateral engagements that the government intended to carry out with CSOs, NGOs, Religious Organizations, Community Leaders, and youth groups.
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He said the effort is geared towards the security of the country against illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons as well as its devastating effects, which according to him, have been issues of serious concern to West African countries and the global community.
“Rather, it is the easy access to them and the simplicity of their use that make violence more lethal and conflicts more protracted.
“Therefore, SALW have become weapons of choice for criminals, terrorists and bandits in Nigeria and beyond, posing a significant challenge to the country, especially in the wake of insecurity that has recently engulfed the Sahel Region.
“Hence the need to stop the proliferation of these deadly weapons,” the NSA stated.
He further stated no emphasis is required to know that the uncontrolled availability of small arms and light weapons, especially the illicit ones, have continued to undermine global peace and significantly hinder development.
Monguno attributed the suffering in the society to the threat and the use of illicit firearms in circulation in the country. He, however, stated that it is important to emphasise that these weapons themselves do not cause conflict.
He said it was against the backdrop of the proliferation of weapons and its attendant consequences that President Muhammadu Buhari authorised the establishment of the Centre to tackle the menace following global standards.
According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari has further demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to the provisions of Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
“Which requires each member state to establish national institutions to promote a multilateral approach to stamping out illicit arms trade in the Sub-region.
“The effort towards eradicating illicit arms globally is one that has involved all stakeholders including the international and regional community, nations, states and most importantly, the civil society.
“In spite of our best efforts, it has become apparent that West Africa and indeed the global community are losing the war to transnational organised criminal networks, terrorist groups, domestic criminal elements and weapons manufacturers,” Monguno said.
He further disclosed that numerous studies conducted by Small Arms Survey, OXFAM and SBM Intelligence suggested that Nigeria currently accounts for about 60 to 70 per cent of the 10 million illicit weapons believed to be in West Africa.
According to him, this has already manifested as evidenced in the level of armed violence witnessed across Nigeria.
Monguno, therefore, called for the support of CSOs for the government’s avowed commitment to rid the society of illicit weapons.
He commended the Centre for its efforts in ridding the nation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
