Arms centre to destroy over 30,000 arms, ammunition

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The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) is set to destroy a total of 30,132 decommissioned, unserviceable, and illicit arms and ammunition by the end of September.

This includes 3,383 arms and 26,749 various calibres of ammunition, with some of these items originating from arms-bearing government agencies.

DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd.), National Coordinator of NCCSALW, revealed this at a workshop on gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and West Africa, held in Abuja on Tuesday.

He stated, “In addition to the above, the National Centre has retrieved a total of 3,383 decommissioned, unserviceable, obsolete, and illicit small arms and light weapons and 26,749 various calibres of ammunition from the following arms-bearing agencies of government: the Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigeria Police Force.”

Kokumo also mentioned that the destruction exercise would include items retrieved from the Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Customs Service.

He emphasised the importance of this action, saying, “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 further highlighted the global significance of controlling small arms and light weapons proliferation. “The control of small arms and light weapons proliferation is not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance,” Kokumo said.

He added, “The illegal flow of small arms and light weapons has devastating consequences, fuelling violence, instability and insecurity in various parts of the world. As we all know, the most traumatic effects of these crises usually befall women and children.”

Kokumo also advocated for the involvement of women in disarmament and security policies, noting, “Gender mainstreaming in Small Arms and Light Weapons control is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move, as the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children highlights the need for a gender-sensitive approach to disarmament and security policies.”

National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Ibrahim Babani, Director of External Affairs, ONSA, commended the president’s assent to the bill establishing the NCCSALW as a significant step towards controlling illegal arms proliferation.

Ribadu emphasised, “The legislative backing strengthens the centre’s mandate and paves the way for more coordinated and decisive action.” He also underscored the necessity of integrating gender considerations into efforts to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

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