By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has reinforced its commitment to tackling the menace of illegal arms proliferation in Nigeria, calling on the media to play an active role in sensitizing the public.
The Zonal Director of the Centre’s South-East office, Major General Okechukwu Nkem Ugo (Rtd.), made the appeal on Wednesday while interacting with journalists at the Secretariat Complex of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, in Awka, where he gave an overview on the Centre’s mandate, achievements, and future plans.
Speaking at the event, Major General Ugo emphasized that the NCCSALW was established to ensure Nigeria aligns with global best practices in controlling arms proliferation. The Centre, which was first established by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2021, recently gained legal backing following the signing of its enabling act into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June last year. Operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Centre has six zonal offices across the country, with the South-East office based in Enugu.
According to the Zonal Director, the primary objective of the Centre is to rid Nigeria of illicit arms, preventing weapons from moving illegally within or across the country’s borders. He noted that millions of small arms and light weapons in circulation pose a significant threat to national security, fueling violence, crime, and instability in various regions. In line with the United Nations Programme of Action, Nigeria established the Centre to collaborate with international organizations to combat the illegal flow of arms.
Major General Ugo explained that small arms are those that can be operated by an individual, such as an AK-47 rifle, while light weapons require two or more persons to operate. He added that the Centre employs a dual approach—kinetic and non-kinetic—in its operations. According to him, while security agencies such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps actively confiscate illegal arms from criminals, the Centre ensures these arms do not find their way back into society, as the law mandates the agencies to hand of the recovered arms to the Centre. Additionally, he said the Centre equally focuses on advocacy, enlightenment, and engagement with various groups, including youths, religious bodies, and civil society organizations, to discourage illicit possession of arms.
Highlighting the progress made so far, Major General Ugo revealed that over 20,000 illicit arms have been recovered nationwide, with 10,000 already destroyed. However, he expressed concern over Anambra State ranking highest in the number of illicit arms recovered in the South-East, stressing the urgent need for intensified efforts to curb the problem. He further warned that illegal possession of firearms attracts a prison sentence of up to 10 years and urged individuals in possession of unauthorized weapons to surrender them voluntarily to avoid prosecution.
To enhance its operations, the Centre plans to establish state offices across Nigeria, which will facilitate improved communication, intelligence gathering, and enforcement. These state offices will complement the existing zonal offices located in the six geopolitical zones: Enugu for the South-East, Kaduna for the North-West, Maiduguri for the North-East, Minna for the North-Central, Ibadan for the South-West, and Calabar for the South-South.
During the interactive session, Major General Ugo, who lauded the media, further called on the media practitioners to use their platforms to educate the public on the dangers of arms proliferation, even as he highlighted the media’s critical role in influencing public perception, shaping attitudes, and discouraging the culture of violence and illegal arms possession. He specifically expressed gratitude to the NUJ Anambra State Council for hosting the event and reiterated that the Centre remains open to collaboration with all stakeholders committed to national security.
While emphasizing that the fight against illicit arms is a shared responsibility, he maintained that through joint efforts, Nigeria can significantly reduce the threats posed by uncontrolled weapons in circulation. He further assured that any information provided to the Centre regarding illicit arms dealings would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and security.
Responding on behalf of the journalists, the Anambra State State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD, commended the Centre for its proactive approach and pledged to collaborate in spreading awareness on the operations and activities of the Centre to ensure they receive the necessary public attention and policy support.
Dr. Odogwu also suggested future engagements such as dedicated media campaigns, town hall meetings, and sensitization programs targeting communities most affected by arms proliferation.
In his words, the NUJ Anambra is open to partnership towards realizing the Centre’s primary vision of making Nigeria safer by eliminating illegal weapons and reduce the threats posed by uncontrolled weapons in circulation, which have long fueled conflicts and insecurity in the state, the region, and the country at large.
The event was also graced by some principal officers of the Centre in the zone, including Lt. Col. Reginald Isiguzo (Assistant Director, Strategic Communication and Information); Col. Dr. Bendict Achodo (Assistant Director, Arms Registry); Mr. Okwudili Agboeze (Assistant Director, Int.); Mr. Ikemefuna Darlington (Senior Program Officer of the Centre); Mr. Marcel Onwudiwe (Program Officer); and Queen Juliet (Program Officer 1, Gender).
