Reps partner Armed Forces on war against small arms proliferation

The House of Representatives and Nigerian Armed Forces have resolved to work together towards addressing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

This was made known at an interactive session between the House Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the military high command at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

In his remarks, the committee’s chairman, Hon. Aliyu Bappa Misau (Bauchi), said the panel was committed to addressing the pressing issue of small arms proliferation in the country.

He said the issue of small arms and light weapons is not merely a matter of national security but a pressing humanitarian concern that affects the everyday lives of the citizens.

Bappa-Misau said the escalation of the proliferation of these weapons has far-reaching consequences, contributing to the erosion of trust within the communities, violence, and instability. Hence, it is the collective responsibility of lawmakers and the military to address the challenge with urgency and resolve.

“We believe that a harmonious working relationship between the legislature and the armed forces is crucial in addressing this challenge. By pooling our resources, expertise, and knowledge, we can develop innovative solutions to the problems posed by small arms and light weapons.

“Today, we are here to seek collaboration and to foster a strong working relationship between our offices. Together, we can develop and implement comprehensive strategies to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons. I believe that a united front among our institutions will empower us to tackle this issue more effectively.

“Some key areas we would like to collaborate on include, but are not limited to: Capacity Building – Providing training and capacity-building programmes for military personnel and other stakeholders to enhance their ability to address small arms proliferation.

“Legislative Support – Working together to develop and implement effective laws and policies to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Public awareness campaigns: We need to engage our communities in understanding the dangers posed by the proliferation of these weapons. By raising awareness, we can inspire citizens to participate in initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security,” he added.

For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also lamented the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which is caused, among other factors, by porous borders, affecting security efforts generally.

Represented by the Chief of Policy, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshall Sayo Olatunde, he decried the porousness of the borders and called for the fencing of Nigeria’s borders as a way of curbing small arms proliferation.

“We need to address our problems from the root. Yes, we have to fence our borders. Porous borders are one of the critical drivers of insecurity in Nigeria. We have neighbours and countries that are not stable around Nigeria,” he said.

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