The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has called for the implementation of existing laws in the country by security agencies and other stakeholders to curb the proliferation of small arms.
Abubakar made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a consultative meeting on strengthening Nigeria implementation of the UN Programme of Action and International Tracing Instrument ahead of the 2026 Biennal Meeting of States.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by the West African Action Network on small Arms (WAANSA).
The theme of the meeting is “Ehancing National Coordination, Data Reporting and Civil Society-Government Engagement on Small Arms Control in Nigeria”.
The Etsu Nupe said the meeting was to show that relevant stakeholders had significant roles to play in the proliferation of small arms in the country.
He said the increasing rate of small arms possession by those not entitled in the country had become a source of worry, adding that there was need to address the trend.
He also said that the increasing rate of illegal possession of the weapons was dangerous and could lead to disaster if not controlled.
“There are already some laws on the ground but implementations of these laws are not actually being effective.
“So we need the authorities concerned, especially the security agencies, the police, the military, the customs, the immigration, and every other agency to enforce the law.
“We need to use the laws already on ground to provide adequate control of small arms,” he said.
He pledged the commitment of the traditional institutions to support the law enforcement agencies in the implementation of laws to control small arms possession in the country.
In his remark, Mr Martins Igwe, the Regional Vice President, WAANSA, said the decisions reached at the meeting would be advanced to the international action to complement their efforts.
He blamed the challenges of small arms proliferation in the country on lack of political will to implement some of the existing laws.
“Just like I told them about border security, I didn’t say they should fence all the borders in this country.
“There are strategic places that you will fence to complement the efforts of the Federal Government towards securing the country,” he said.
He said that one of the decisions reached at the meeting was to integrate the traditional institutions into the campaign against small arms proliferation.
Igwe said the traditional rulers would be integrated considering their roles as the custodians of the local community.
“I can assure you that if we integrate the traditional council, bringing relevant policies, plus safeguarding our borders, we will enrich the United Nations Programme of Action, especially in line with Nigerian realities,” he said.
In his keynote address, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS said illicit arms and light weapons were threats to security, development, governance and human dignity.
Musah, represented by Mr Joseph Ahoba, the Director, Small Arms Unit, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of ECOWAS said every weapon moved from illicit circulation represented lives protected and communities stabilised.
”If Nigeria strengthens its coordination mechanisms, modernises its data systems and institutionalises civil society engagement, Biennial Meeting of States will mark not just another reporting cycle.
“It will mark a tangible step towards safer communities and stronger institutions,” he said.
