The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has given insight into how Nigeria’s stock of 11 million illegal arms and light weapons, 70 per cent of total in West Africa, is responsible for the growing number of Nigerian Internationally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees in neighbouring countries.
Nigeria has a total of 2.2 million IDPs and 26,000 refugees in neighboring countries.
Alex Ebimiebo, the South South Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, who spoke on Thursday at the Naval Warfare Course 9 Inter-Agency seminar organised by the Naval War College, Calabar, Cross River State, said in a paper themed “Strengthening Security Agencies Collaboration to Counter Illicit Arms Proliferation for Enhanced National Security in Nigeria” that arms proliferation had led to economic distortions, an increase in violence, crime, and impediment to peace building.
Ebimiebo however called for concerted effort from all Nigerians to tackle the menace, saying that NCCSALW would take the fight to the society since security is the responsibility of everyone.
“So, as a result, everybody is a stakeholder, so as such, we need to involve the whole society in this fight and the center has a lot of programmes for collaboration with our sister agencies.
”We also have advocacy and sensitisation programmes that we take to members of the general public from time to time,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Commandant, Naval War College, Rear Admiral Akinola Oludude, expressed concern on the influx of illicit arms into Nigeria especially since 2020, adding that this is mainly because of the extensive borderline of about 4,470 kilometers between Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
He also noted that the nation’s maritime domain that extended over 853 kilometers of coastline and of the Gulf of Guinea had also not helped.
The Commandant said that the 2021 survey by the NCCSALW revealed that over six million illegal weapons were in circulation in the country.
Admiral Oludude said that out of the figure, about 70 per cent were in the hands of non-states actors.
”The impact of this illicit arms proliferation is profound and multifaceted. These weapons bred various forms of insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and armed robbery.
“Inter-agency collaboration is needed to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons,” he said.
Admiral Oludude said that no single agency, no matter how well-resourced, no matter how well-dedicated, could effectively tackle the complex challenge alone.
He stated that the nature of the recent arms proliferation demanded a joint and multi-agency approach.
“Therefore, this seminar provides a vital platform for us to collectively examine the complexities of this complex challenge,” he said.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Ezete, urged the participants to translate the discussions and recommendations of the seminar into concrete actions.
He advised the participants to take the knowledge and insights gained to their respective agencies and organisations and implement them
According to Admiral Ezete: “we must ensure that the suggestions and way forward developed here are implemented effectively and that the partnerships forged are sustained. This requires a commitment from all stakeholders, including the leadership of our security agencies and the wider community.
”Share your experiences, implement the strategies that have been suggested, and continue to work collaboratively to counter illicit arms proliferation. We must also continue to invest in training, technology, and intelligence gathering to enhance our capabilities.”