Restraining illegal circulation of firearms

Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs), occasioned by illegal and porous national borders and booming business of gun-running, is the main factor fueling Nigeria’s security challenges, giving rise to criminal activities across the country.

The proliferation of SALWs is a global phenomenon arising from conflicts across the globe. According to a study conducted by a Geneva based small arms survey, it is estimated that more than 857 million SALWs are currently in circulation aside from twelve billion rounds of ammunition produced annually. Of these, ten million SALWs are estimated to be in Africa with one million of these in Nigeria.

This is connected with previous and on-going conflicts in West and North African countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Niger, Mali and Libya. Proliferation of SALWs aids non-state actors including Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, bandits, militants etc. while undermining state monopoly of instruments of coercion. The threats posed by proliferation of SALWs are of such magnitude that a security strategy which contemplates the monitoring of their flow and use is required.

In order to stem the rising tide of illegal weapons circulation, the Federal Government has established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), domiciled under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Major General Babagana Monguno with retired Major General AM Dikko as the pioneer coordinator. Among several functions, the national centre will be responsible for controlling the proliferation of SALWs in Nigeria, implementing strategies, plans and policies for the eradication of SALWs, as well as supervise the implementation of same by relevant government bodies. It will also create and maintain small arms and light weapons register and a national database; receive reports on firearms registration from the Nigeria Police and update the database with such information.

Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi, Kano.

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