One million illegal weapons in Nigeria – NSA document – TheNigerialawyer

No fewer than 10 million small arms and light weapons are in
circulation in Africa, of which one million are in Nigeria, a
national security strategy document from the Office of the National
Security Adviser has shown.

Amidst concerns of rising banditry and kidnapping rate, there
are fears in security circles that the weapons in circulation in
the country may have increased astronomically this year.

Although the document was prepared in 2014, the National
Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno (retd.), said, “Most of
the threats identified in the 2014 document are still present with
us.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had, only on Tuesday, met with
service chiefs and ordered them to halt the proliferation of small
arms and light weapons in the country.

The President had, in a review of the security situation in the
country, given the order to the military despite the establishment
of a Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons in
2014, which is statutorily saddled with such responsibility.

According to the NSA document, which was obtained by our
correspondent on Friday, other challenges identified as facing
Nigeria are the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
recurring communal, ethno-religious and pastoralists/farmers’
conflicts.

The document partly read, “The proliferation of small arms and
light weapons is a global phenomenon arising from conflicts across
the globe. Presently, more than 90 countries produce various types
of small arms and light weapons. It is estimated that more than 857
million weapons are in circulation aside from 12 billion rounds of
ammunition produced annually. Of these, 10 million small arms and
light weapons are estimated to be in Africa, of which one million
are in Nigeria.

“The weapons were compounded by major conflicts in West and
North African countries, notably Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote
D’Ivoire and much more recently, Mali and Libya.

“The proliferation of nuclear, radiological, chemical and
biological weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery
constitute grave threat. The proliferation constitutes a challenge
in itself since the weapons may reach their targets in
non-conventional ways.

“In spite of this, a national security strategy that involves
the development of technological, biological and chemical
capabilities to neutralise these threats and reduce their impact on
the civilian populace and the nation’s critical assets is
desirable.”

Monguno, speaking at a meeting on Thursday with the military and
security stakeholders in Abuja, called for a review of the 2014
security document, which he said, would be replaced by a draft 2019
national security strategy to accommodate the contemporary threats
facing the country.

He noted, at the validation session meeting, that the 2019
national security strategy would provide direction for the military
in defeating the threats to Nigeria’s national interests.

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