The Director General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, (DIG) Johnson Kokumo has attributed insecurity within the Gulf of Guinea to factors such as climate change, displacement, rise in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the instability that fuel the demand for the arms.
The Director General was speaking at a 2-Day Seminar organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Office of the National Security Adviser, in conjunction with the Global Network for Human Development which was held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre Abuja, Nigeria.
Speaking on the theme; Climate Change and Arms Proliferation In Nigeria: Navigating New Security Threats in the Gulf of Guinea, the retired DIG pointed out that the impact of climate change had become a significant contributor to displacement and instability in various regions, particularly the Gulf of Guinea.
Kokumo stressed that this is also a significant driver of instability and conflict in vulnerable regions across the world with criminal networks exploiting the situation.
“We must reflect on how the changing climate exacerbates insecurity, weakens governance and allows the illegal arms trade to thrive. Furthermore, we need to explore how we can respond to these emerging threats more effectively by fostering stronger national and regional frameworks for arms control, environmental resilience and conflict mitigation”
He used the opportunity to assure the participants of the Centre’s commitment and resolve to ensure the menace of Small Arms and Light Weapons is curbed.
The guest lecturer, Dr Dickson Orji, who is the President of GOLHD Centre, said a bulk of illicit armed in Nigeria made their way into the country through the maritime domain, urging the government to pay more attention to the maritime arena in the fight against the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
He stressed that the larger percentage of goods coming into the country are through the maritime and it is where more attention needs to be focussed to ensure that all ships are properly inspected and certified.
He therefore calls for continuous stakeholder engagements such as the seminar, empowerment of the relevant agencies responsible for maritime security as well as effective collaboration between the security agencies in the sector.
Hauwa M.
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