President Tinubu has signed National Arms Control Centre Bill, says Ribadu
KUNLE SANNI
President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a bill for the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu has said.
Ribadu spoke during a workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Arms Control, held in Abuja on Tuesday, organized by the newly established centre.
Representing the NSA, Ambassador Ibrahim Babani, Director of External Affairs at the Office of the NSA, highlighted that the president’s approval of the bill is a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal arms.
Ribadu noted that the legislative backing will bolster the centre’s ability to take coordinated and decisive actions to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
During the workshop, Ribadu also stressed the importance of incorporating gender perspectives into the fight against arms proliferation.
He cited the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the protection of women in conflict zones and their inclusion in peacebuilding efforts.
He also referenced the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, underscoring the region’s collective responsibility in addressing the issue, which disproportionately affects women and children.
“Moreover, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons underscores the collective responsibility of our region in curting the spread of these dangerous weapons, which disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.
“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of SALW cannot be overstated as it strengthens our strategies, and ensures that our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable,” he said.
Ribadu commended the centre for its efforts towards addressing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, said the centre has in recent times, made some significant achievements in the fight against the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Kokumo said the centre had on July 1, retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service and subsequently arrested 10 suspects involved in the illicit importation.
He said the suspects were currently being prosecuted by the NCCSALW for illegal importation into Nigeria, prohibited 544 Firearms and 112,500 rounds of cartridges contrary to Section 3 (6) of Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 among other offences.
This, according to him, underscores the centre’s commitment to not only intercepting arms but also ensuring that those responsible for these acts face the full weight of the law.
“In addition to the above, the National Centre has retrieved a total of quantity 3,383 decommissioned, unserviceable, obsolete and illicit small arms and light weapons and 26,749 various calibres of ammunition from the arms bearing agencies of government.
“Later in this quarter, NCCSALW would be conducting an Arms Destruction Exercise which is a critical step in ensuring that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation,” he said.
Kokumo said the control of small arms and light weapons proliferation was not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance.
He said that the illegal flow of small arms and light weapons had devastating consequences, fuelling violence, instability and insecurity in various parts of the world.
He said that gender mainstreaming in SALW control was not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move, considering the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children.
This, he said, highlighted the need for a gender-sensitive approach to disarmament and security policies.
“This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for Small Arms and Light Weapons control,” he said.
