Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) on Tuesday raised the alarm that non-state actors in the Sahel region possess as many as 14 million firearms.
General Dambazau, who is also the Nigerian ambassador-designate to China, told journalists in Abuja said protecting the welfare and interests of Nigerians residing in China will be his top priority as well as pursuing stronger bilateral cooperation in areas of human capital development, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture and security.
Dambazau noted that of the 14 million firearms, 11 million are within the stretch of West Africa towards Central Africa, adding that insecurity in Nigeria is a complex and regional problem that requires a regional approach for resolution.
Stating that the problem was not unique to Nigeria, he said that since the proliferation of firearms is a major contributor to insecurity in the country and the Sahel region, a partnership was needed to fight it.
According to him: “As of the last count, the statistics show that there are over 14 million firearms in the hands of non-state actors in the region. Out of this 14 million, about 11 million are within the stretch of West Africa towards Central Africa.
“You can guess that because of the activities of non-state actors within Nigeria and because of our population, quite a lot of these firearms are also in Nigeria. These firearms are not manufactured in Africa; they come from somewhere. So you need a partnership to deal with that proliferation, but first, you have to identify the source and block it.”
The former COAS under late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua also stated that technology is required to sweep the excess firearms in the hands of non-state actors.
Dambazau, who was on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, ahead of his assumption of office in China, noted that China is home to a significant Nigerian population, largely concentrated in trade and commerce, stressing the need to work closely with NiDCOM to provide guidance and support for Nigerians in the country while encouraging them to be worthy ambassadors of their fatherland.
On the bilateral relationship, he noted that Nigeria and China had maintained formal diplomatic ties since 1971, a relationship that had grown over the decades through multiple state visits.
