…Accuses Security Agencies Of Connivance
*As Bill Passes 2nd Reading
By Ignatius Okorocha
The Senate on Wednesday at plenary linked killing, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of insecurity in the country to Proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
This was as the upper chamber has accused the security agencies of giving weapons to criminals, while indicting the Nigeria Customs Services and Immigration of conniving with criminals, who illegally smuggled arms and ammunition into the country.
These developments were captured during a debate by the lawmakers on a Bill titled, “a Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Nigeria National Commission against the Proliferation of small arms and light weapons and for related matters,” sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi.
The Bill, which passed second reading on the floor of the Senate was referred to Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, to report back in two weeks for further legislative actions.
Recall that this Bill was first presented to the 8th Senate in 2019 by Senator Nazif Sulieman under the sponsorship of Director General, National Taskforce on Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Small Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons,(NATFORCE)Dr. Emmanuel Osita Okereke but could not go for second reading.
Meanwhile,in his lead debate, Senator Adeyemi said that the Bill, which was read for the first time in the Senate on Wednesday, 18th December, 2020, sought to provide for the establishment of the national commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons to coordinate and implement activities to combat the problems of small arms and light weapon in Nigeria in line with ECOWAS states on small arms and light weapons.
The lawmaker said that the objectives of the Bill includes: “To identify sources and main routes of these Small Arms, Ammunitions and Light Weapon; To identify why this illicit trade thrives in Nigeria; To liaise with the relevant Authorities, Agencies and Organizations with the aim of tackling these manace;
“To recommend possible ways to monitor, control, halt, and mitigate these nagging illegal activities of unscrupulous persons, companies and organizations; To itemize and identify promoters, users, patrons and reasons for these illegal activities; To explore all avenues to achieve adequate funding for this campaign;
“To train and build the capacity of the corps and others towards an effective enforcement of this mandate;
“To put in place all other machinery needed for successful prosecution of this campaign to combat illegal importation small arms, ammunition and light weapons; .
“Enhance coordination and where possible harmonization of intelligence and information collection, analysis and dissemination among the intelligence organ and law enforcement agencies involved;
“Ensure prosecution of all smugglers of illegal weapons and goods caught; Help to disrupt and dismantle these organizations; and Enhance counter intelligence by sniffing out illegal routes of smuggling.”
Adeyemi pointed out that Proliferation of small arms and light weapons is not only eating into the survival of emerging nations in the international scene especially in Africa, but also a phenomenon that is destabilizing the peace, development and threatening the national security of sovereign nations.
“Small Arms and Light Weapons are readily available, easy to use and have been the primary or sole tool of violence in almost all conflicts in every part of the globe. These weapons of terror are in the hand of irregular troops operating with scant respect for international and humanitarian law, they have taken a heavy toll on human lives, with women and children accounting for nearly 80 percent of the causalities.
“The proliferation of these weapons affects the intensity and duration of violence and encourages militancy rather than a peaceful resolution of unsettled differences.
“In Nigeria, this has become a serious security challenge. There is general insecurity as most parts of the country experience high level crimes perpetrated using illicit arms. The UN estimated a substantial percentage of illegal arms that is in circulation in West Africa are in Nigeria.
“This has fuelled violent conflicts as witnessed in the Niger Delta, Kidnapping in the South East, Armed robbery pandemic in the South West, Ethnic/Religious Violence on the Plateau, and the Boko Haram operations in the North-East, a situation which has plunged the nation into a serious state of insecurity.
“Uncontrolled arms have also impacted on the country’s democracy and deveIopment negatively. Electoral violence by gun-wielding thugs and assassinations of several political leaders since 1999, have jeopardized free and fair elections in many states of the federation,” he said.
The lawmaker estimated the cost of establishing the Nigeria National Commission in the first twelve months as follows: “Projected Recurrent Expenditure (Salaries and Allowances of personnel), N230,176,123.36.
“Projected Recurrent Expenditure (Maintenance of vehicles, management costs of offices and Other contingency) N64,744, 000.00.
“Estimated Capital Expenditure (Office accommodation, furniture, etc N160,000,000.000
“Estimated Capital Expenditure (Purchase of vehicles) Total Projected/Estimated Costs for First Year N4, 000, 000.00 and Commencement of the Board, N521, 920, 123.36.”
Senator Adamu Aliero ( Kebbi Central)while lending his voice in support of the passage of the bill, accused men of the Nigerian Customs Service of conniving with arms dealers to smuggle in small arms into the country through the borders.
He added that if the bill is not passed into law by the National Assembly, “violence will continue” unabated.
Another lawmaker, Emmanuel Bwacha( Taraba South) in his contribution, cited the United States as a country without strong gun control laws, adding that “they are paying dearly for it today”.
“It is better to have a control of arms, than allow every dick and Harry to possess arms. In doing this, we must do it with genuine intention,” Bwacha advised.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Francis Fadahunsi,( Osun central) on his part pointed out a situation where the military and the police will be stealing weapons from armories.
Sen. Ibrahim Gobir,( Sokoto East)alleged that immigration and Customs have connived with criminals to proliferate illegal arms and ammunition in the country, adding, “we have local manufacturers on illegal arms and ammunition supplying criminals with their products.”
Senator Amos Bulus ( Gombe South)lamented that the government does not have the will to prosecute those involved in gun running in the country, adding, “we know those that are involved. We don’t have the will power to take action where the need arises. For instance so many people have been arrested at Tinkers island but till day nothing has been done.”
