According to Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, President Bola Tinubu has given his approval to the bill creating the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Ribadu announced this during Tuesday’s workshop in Abuja on gender mainstreaming as a means of preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons was the organisation behind the session.
Amb. Ibrahim Babani, the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Director of External Affairs, represented him.
According to the NSA, the president’s signing of the legislation marked a significant turning point in the government’s efforts to stop the spread of illicit weapons.
According to him, this legislative backing strengthens the centre’s mandate and sets the path for more concerted and decisive action.
In order to stop small arms and light weapons from spreading throughout the nation, Ribadu also highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming.
He noted that the workshop was based in significant international frameworks, notably United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
He claims that the resolution highlights how important it is to shield women from the effects of conflict while also guaranteeing their full involvement in efforts aimed at promoting security and peace.
“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 stated.
Ribadu commended all efforts put to counter the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
The National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, stated in his introductory remarks that the organisation has made some noteworthy progress in the fight against the unlawful spread of small arms and light weapons in recent years.
According to Kokumo, the facility had taken possession of a sizable stash of illicit weapons on July 1 from the Nigeria Customs Service, and ten individuals were apprehended for their involvement in the unlawful importation.
According to him, among other offences, the accused are presently facing prosecution by the NCCSALW for bringing illegal firearms into Nigeria, violating Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous offences Act Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 by importing 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition.
He claims that this demonstrates the center’s dedication to both intercepting weapons and making sure those who carry them out bear the full force 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.
According to Kokumo, the spread of light weapons and small arms control is a global issue as well as a domestic one.
According to him, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons has disastrous effects and contributes to instability, insecurity, and violence worldwide.
In light of the serious effects that armed conflict had on women and children, he claimed that gender mainstreaming in SALW control was both a moral requirement and a calculated decision.
He claimed that this demonstrated the necessity of approaching disarmament and security measures with consideration for gender.
“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 ended.
