The House of Representatives Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons has sought the collaboration of the Nigerian Military in the fight against small arms proliferation in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Aliyu Bappa Misau announced the collaboration during an interactive visit to the military hierarchy, in Abuja.
He noted that the committee is dedicated to addressing the pressing issue of small arms proliferation in Nigeria.
“As we are all aware, the issue of small arms and light weapons is not merely a matter of national security; it is a pressing humanitarian concern that affects the everyday lives of our citizens. The escalation of proliferation of these weapons has far-reaching consequences, contributing to erosion of trust within our communities, violence and instability. It is our collective responsibility to address this challenge with urgency and resolve. We believe that a harmonious working relationship between the legislative and the arm forces is crucial in addressing this challenge. By pooling our resources, expertise, and knowledge, we can develop innovative solutions to the problems posed by small arms and light weapons,” Mr. Misau said.
The chairman also said that the committee’s visit was to seek collaboration and to foster a strong working relationship between the offices.
“Together, we can develop and implement comprehensive strategies to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons. I believe that a united front among our institutions will empower us to tackle this issue more effectively. Some key areas we would like to collaborate on includes capacity building, legislative support, public awareness campaign and improve security.
He said the capacity building includes providing training and capacity-building programs for military personnel and other stakeholders to enhance their ability to address small arms proliferation.
On the legislative support, working together to develop and implement effective laws and policies to prevent the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Public awareness campaigns
“We need to engage our communities in understanding the dangers posed by the proliferation of these weapons. By raising awareness, we can inspire citizens to participate in initiatives aimed at promoting peace and security,” he said.
The chairman urged the military to join the House to explore international partnerships to address the Proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
“The global nature of arms trafficking necessitates that we work hand in hand with other nations to secure our porous border and organisations to combat this issue. By aligning our efforts with international standards and best practices, we can strengthen our resolve and effectiveness,” Mr. Misau stated.
In his response, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who was represented by Chief of Policy, Defense Headquarters, Air vice Marshall Sayo Olatunde, decried the porousness of Nigerian boarders.
He noted that the issue of porous borders is affecting security efforts.
“We need to address our problems from the root. Yes we have to fence our boarders.
Porous boarders is one of the critical drivers of insecurity in Nigeria. We have neighbours and countries that are not stable around Nigeria,” he said.
The hierarchy also called for the fencing of Nigeria boarders as a way of curbing small arms proliferation.
Tackle the insecurity
They however lamented that the resources available to the Armed Forces is not adequate to tackle the insecurity challenge in the country.
Both parties agreed to work together to address the issues surrounding small arms and light weapons for the good of Nigeria.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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