NCCSALW Calls For Collaborative Effort To Curb Illicit Arms Proliferation

The South-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Retired Major General Okechukwu Ugo, has called for collaboration of stakeholders in the fight to curb illicit flow of arms and light weapons, as it poses a threat to economic growth and development.

Gen. Ugo stated this at a one-day seminar on the control of proliferation of small arms and illicit weapons held on Thursday in Enugu

He disclosed that the Centre had recovered and destroyed 6,000 illicit and obsolete small arms and light weapons from various areas in the country.

These recoveries and destruction exercises, which were in line with UN conventions, had contributed immensely to prevent the recycling of these illicit arms back into our society,” General Ugo stated.

He noted that the exercises had contributed immensely to enhance the safety and security in Nigeria and globally.

Gen. Ugo pointed out that the Centre, realising the need for sub-regional, regional and global partnerships in the fight against the menace of illicit arms, had engaged and continued to engage various international stakeholders in the field.

He recalled that the Centre recently hosted representatives of all countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to a two-day conference in Abuja where participants fashioned out ways of sharing intelligence to ensure that cross-border trafficking and illicit trade of small arms and light weapons were checkmated.

The Centre, he added, also participates in various regional and global fora on SALW under the auspices of ECOWAS, AU and UN regularly to ensure that Nigeria conforms to global best practices in this regard.

“The Southeast Zonal Office, which I am privileged to be its pioneer Zonal Coordinator, has continued to support the National Headquarters to achieve the overall vision, mission and objectives of the Centre.

“The SE Zonal Office has been carrying out necessary awareness campaigns via radio and television jingles as well as engagements with critical stakeholders from different segments of the society,” the retired general said.

He listed the stakeholders to include traditional rulers, leaders of faith-based organisations, journalists, youth groups and many others.

“We have also contributed our quota in the retrieval of obsolete and illicit arms from units and formations within our area of responsibility as well as sharing of intelligence with relevant stakeholders,” he said.

The Southeast Zonal Commander commended the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for the continuous support of his government in allocating a sizeable plot of land for the construction of their permanent office complex within Enugu metropolis as well as other technical aids.

He further commended the Chief of Army Staff, through the GOC, 82 Division for providing the plot of land for the construction of armoury and other administrative and operational supports.

While seeking more operational cooperation, General Ugo thanked security agencies in Enugu and other states in the zone for their cooperation and collaboration.

He stressed that the theme of the seminar: “Multi-sectoral Synergy Towards the Control of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria” was carefully chosen to bring forth the urgent need for collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders against the spread of illicit arms.

“It is believed that interactions and discussions within this august gathering of eminent and erudite personalities in the security sector would engender positive ideas towards making our region and the whole nation much safer,” he stated.

On his part, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Hassan Dada, represented by the Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Brig.-Gen. MM Abu, said that it was important that weapons were not left in the hands of unauthorised persons.

According to Dada, all hands should be on deck to recover small arms and light weapons from society.

He described the theme of the seminar, ‘Multi Sectoral Synergy Towards the Control of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria’ as timely and imperative.

In his contribution, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, represented by Onyeamu Akame, while expressing dismay at the proliferation of illicit arms in the country, cautioned that the political class should desist from arming the youths to execute elections.

Uzuegbu lamented that when political thugs are armed, it would be difficult to retrieve such weapons from them, adding that politicians should be discouraged from arming youths because it will be difficult to retrieve such arms from them.