The Economic Community of West African States has called on member states to watch for the diversion of lawfully acquired arms for illicit purposes, saying it poses a grave danger to national security.
Meanwhile, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons said it has destroyed over 17,000 unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons, as well as over 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunition, since it was established in 2021.
This was disclosed during a five-day In-Security Training on Physical Security, Stockpile Management and Property Management for National Security in Nigeria, organised by the Small Arms Division of ECOWAS in partnership with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, held in Port Harcourt on Monday.
In his address, the Acting Head, Small Arms Division, ECOWAS, Mr Abayomi Adeomi, lauded the Federal Government, the NCCSALW and the Rivers State Government for their cooperation and support in hosting the training.
Adeomi said the collaboration between ECOWAS and the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies has helped to translate the regional commitment of the ECOWAS Commission into practical capacity building among member states.
The training, he said, came at a time when the region was facing continued, serious and complex security challenges, adding that attention should not only be given to the illegal importation of arms, but also to diversion.
“While most attention is often paid to weapons trafficked across borders, we must equally remain vigilant about the diversion of weapons from legally authorized stockpiles of Member States. Comprehensive and effective stockpile management is therefore not just a mere technical administrative function.
“The core element of national security conflict prevention, peace building, accountable security sector governance, accurate inventory displays, discipline across control of the national stockpiles held by Member States, routine inspections, safe handling procedures and competent trained personnel, and timely destruction of offspring and surplus weapons together form a vital barrier against diversion, against theft, against loss and against accidental unexpected explosions,” Adeomi said.
In his speech, the Director-General, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Johnson Kokumo, said since the centre’s inception, it has destroyed over 17,000 unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons, as well as over 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunition.
Represented by the Zonal Director, South-South, Alex Ebimiebo, he said: “Since its inception, the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapon has destroyed over 17,000 illicit, unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons as well as over 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunitions.”
Ebimiebo stated that the support required for the institutional revolution of the centre reflects Nigeria’s longstanding commitment to tackling the immense proliferation of small arms and light weapons prior to the establishment of the Centre.
According to him, the Federal Government, in 2021, established the centre to provide a more permanent and robust institutional framework, saying, “This responsibility was undertaken principally through the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons known as Prescott, which was inaugurated in 2013 as a multi-agency mechanism to coordinate national efforts against illicit proliferation.
“In furtherance of this mandate, the center has continued to prioritize capacity building for the armed forces in Nigeria, police, law enforcement agents and law enforcement agencies.”
Ebimiebo continued, “Particular attention has been given to weapons and ammunition management, physical security, stockpile management, marking and tracking, record keeping, identification of illnesses, weapons, and the strengthening of institutional procedures designed to prevent loss and diversion.