The National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) is urging improved collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in order to reduce the proliferation of small arms in the country to barest minimum.
The National Coordinator of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Kokumo (retd) who was speaking in his courtesy visit to NSCDC at its National Headquarters, Abuja indicated that if there is an outright reduction in the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons; then violent conflicts would equally be reduced drastically. He alluded to the fact that the availability of illegal arms in the hands of non-state actors has contributed to fueling violent conflicts and crimes in the society.
While commending the NSCDC for its contributions to the enhancement of National Security, he called for improved collaboration of the Civil Defence with his agency especially in areas of profiling, identification and arrest of self-acclaimed ‘agencies’ who parade themselves as staff of the Centre and defrauding citizens of their hard-earned resources.
DIG Kokumo (retd) explained that the Centre is the only statutory government agency charged with supervisory responsibility as established by its 2024 Act which was assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in line with the provisions of Article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Centre has the mandate to ensure that there is sanity among arm-bearing agencies of Nigeria, Kokumo added.
In his response, the Commandant General, of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Ahmed Abubakar Audi while expressing delight on the visit assured DIG Kokumo of a renewed commitment, collaboration and cooperation with the Centre in the achievement of its mandate.
The statement by the National PRO of NSCDC, CSC Babawale Afolabi noted that the CG affirmed that the Corps will continue to work closely with the NCCSALW to ensure to effect the arrest of impostors and hand them over to appropriate authorities for possible prosecution.
He congratulated the Centre for successfully pursuing a viable legal framework through the National Assembly and securing the presidential assent saying it will give them more impetus to function appropriately without fear of litigation.