By Ene Asuquo
The National center for the control of small arms and light weapons has said that the Agency is the only one established by executive directive, domiciled in the office of the National security adviser to combat proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the country
This was contained in a press statement issued by the Agency on the 27th of June, 2023 signed by the Zonal coordinator, Major General ( Retired) IM Obot and made available to the press
In the statement, the center said it has observed that some unscrupulous elements have sprung up pseudo -security outfit in whatever guise aimed at deceiving unsuspecting members of the public by parading themselves as the national organization for the control of illicit Small arms and light weapons
The center advised members of the public to be wary of such illegal groups and report such them to the nearest security agency
The center maintained that it is the only group saddled with the responsibility of collaborating with relevant stakeholders in monitoring and tracking the movement and stockpile small arms and light weapons (SALW) within the country through the sharing of credible and actionable information
It also added that the center monitors the country’s international borders and liaises with regional and international bodies on the movement of small arms and light weapons ( SALW ), especially within the West African Sub-region
The center stated that the Agency came into being when it was discovered that there was escalation in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) across the world
So, the United Nations General Assembly in 2001 came up with a resolution calling on the member states to take steps to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons ( SALW) and the article 24 of ECOWAS Convention on SALW, in which Nigeria is a signatory, are the legal document, according to the statement.
The statement maintained that the former president Muhammadu Buhari, on may 3rd 2021 established National Center for the control of small arms and light weapons (NCCSALW) by executive directive domiciled in office of the National security adviser, it stated.