By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday assented to the Bill for the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
This was made known by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, during his address at a Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Preventing the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria and the West African Sub-region, on Tuesday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that the Small Arms and light weapons control program is originally a United Nations initiative promoted to foster peace and security in various conflicts and warring zones in many jurisdictions.
Represented by the Director of External Affairs, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Amb. Ibrahim Babani, the NSA said the development signifies a significant achievement in the government’s efforts to combat the illicit spread of weapons.
According to Babani, this legislative endorsement reinforces the authority of the Center and facilitates more cohesive and resolute measures.
He added that there is more emphasis on the importance of integrating gender considerations into initiatives aimed at preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons within the nation.
He said: “Moreover, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons underscores the collective responsibility of our region in curbing the spread of these dangerous weapons, which disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.
“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of SALW cannot be overstated as it strengthens our strategies and ensures that our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable.”
