*Poor governance aiding arms proliferation – Stakeholders
By; USMAN NASIDI, Kaduna
National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), North-West Zone, has sensitized traditional rulers and religious leaders on the effects of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons on the society.
This is just as the stakeholders at the sensitisation meeting on Wednesday at Kafanchan in Kaduna State, opined that poor governance is responsible for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the society.
In their separate remarks during the sensitization programme, they urged the government to live up to the need of the citizens in the area of health, education, road infrastructure, and provision of job opportunity for the teeming youth, among others.
These, according to them, will eradicate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the society.
Speaking at the sensitization programme, the zonal coordinator, AVM Haruna Umar Mohammed, averred that the centre is mandated to checkmate proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
According to the zonal coordinator, over 5,000 small arms and light weapons were collected, and 20,000 ammunition of different calibre were handed over to the centre in the last few years.
AVM Mohammed however, explained that the centre was able to recover some of the ammunition through surrender, adding that sensitization exercise is also a major factor that has aided the recovering of the weapons.
While speaking, he said, ” In the whole of these, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, amongst other stakeholders, contributed to the success recorded. The credit is not only to the security agencies, but even the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) also contributed to the achievement.
“As we speak now, the centre is heading towards being a commission, it has passed the first and second reading, and we are just waiting for the presidential assent.
“So, the centre is soliciting for your support in this struggle to rid our society of illicit weapons for the good of all.”
Meanwhile, one of the participants, Joel Adegboyega urged that government must ensure that the chain of supply of the small arms and light weapons is totally blocked, using its security architecture.
