The West African Action Network on Small Arms has renewed its call for a nationwide gun amnesty as part of broader efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal weapons across Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
The call was made during an arms destruction exercise organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the supervision of the Office of the National Security Adviser at Giri Abuja.
In a statement issued by Comrade Martins Igwe, the Regional First Vice President of WAANSA, the group described gun amnesty as a practical and urgent step toward reducing the circulation of illicit small arms.
He urged Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve a structured amnesty programme that would allow civilians and non-state actors to voluntarily surrender illegal weapons.
According to him, such an initiative would complement ongoing destruction exercises and encourage wider public participation in disarmament efforts.
“Continuous destruction of illegal, unregistered and obsolete weapons will reduce conflict, terrorism and organised crime. A temporary window for voluntary surrender should be introduced after due consultation,” Igwe stated.
The exercise, held on Friday, March 27, forms part of Nigeria’s commitment to the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms, a global framework adopted in 2001 to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
WAANSA commended the Nigerian government for demonstrating capacity in small arms control through consistent implementation of the UN programme and alignment with regional frameworks such as the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Igwe stressed that arms destruction remains a central pillar of international disarmament strategy, noting that removing weapons from circulation directly reduces threats to national and regional security.
He also called for a comprehensive security framework that integrates modern surveillance technology and stronger border management systems. This includes the creation of a regional task force to assess vulnerable border corridors, design phased fencing strategies and address transnational crime routes.
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The WAANSA official further urged collaboration between governments, civil society groups and international partners to strengthen enforcement and public awareness.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting national and global efforts aimed at eliminating illegal arms, while encouraging citizens to take responsibility for security by reporting suspicious activities.
The arms destruction exercise marks the sixth such operation since the establishment of the NCCSALW in 2021, reinforcing Nigeria’s ongoing campaign against the spread of illicit weapons.
