NCCSALW Restates Commitment In Ending Menace Of Small Arms, Light Weapons

By Oluronke Kuku 

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has restated its commitment towards ending the spread of the use of small arms and light weapons and eradicating the menace in our society. 

The Federal government agency which has Ekiti State as its Head Office in the entire Southwest region led by its Assistant Director of Operations, Mr Williams Olabisi paid a courtesy visit to the Ekiti State Judiciary in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital to meet with the Acting Chief Judge, Honourable Lekan Ogunmoye, to discuss potential areas of collaboration. 

Olabisi in his submissions during the Centre’s visit to the leadership of the Ekiti State Judiciary, restated its commitment to curbing the spread of illicit arms, citing the ECOWAS and the United Nations Conventions that guided its establishment in 2021.

He noted that Nigeria’s delayed creation of the Centre has contributed to the country’s struggles with small arms proliferation. 

Despite this, the Centre has made significant strides, including recovering 800 arms from the Nigerian Customs Service and planning to change the numbering mode of imported firearms to facilitate easy identification.

The Centre has also conducted advocacy visits to various groups, including motor parks, palaces, and students, to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal firearm possession. 

Olabisi stressed that the Centre’s objective is not only to profile and destroy illicit ammunition but also to drastically reduce crime rates in the Country. 

In his response, the Acting Chief Judge Ogunmoye pledged the judiciary’s willingness to support and cooperate with the Centre, acknowledging the critical role that effective arms control plays in reducing kidnapping, banditry, cultism, and armed robbery. With the judiciary’s backing, “the NCCSALW is poised to make significant strides in tackling Nigeria’s small arms menace”, he assured.