The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has stepped up efforts to strengthen regional arms control and reduce armed violence with the deployment of new secure storage infrastructure and expanded training programmes.
The Director General of the centre, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, said this yesterday at the handover of a containerised armoury donated by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) with support from the United States Government in Abuja.
Kokumo said the initiative formed part of a broader regional intervention across West Africa and the Sahel aimed at curbing the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
He noted that beyond infrastructure, the programme had significantly boosted human capacity, with specialised training for armoury personnel and weapons management experts.
According to him, more than 1,300 risk education sessions have been conducted, reaching over 22,000 people in high-risk communities, while dozens of personnel have been trained in armoury management, storekeeping and weapons marking.
“These are not just figures; they represent strengthened national and regional capacity to manage weapons responsibly and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands,” he said.
Kokumo stressed that effective arms control requires a combination of secure infrastructure, trained personnel and sustained international collaboration.
He described the new armoury as a critical component in improving accountability and ensuring that weapons under government custody are properly managed.
“This intervention aligns with broader regional efforts to implement arms control frameworks and reduce the flow of illicit weapons across borders,” he added.
The DG emphasised that the fight against arms proliferation was not limited to Nigeria, but required coordinated action across the ECOWAS region.
He commended the support of MAG and the United States Government, noting that such partnerships were vital in strengthening institutional capacity and promoting best practices in weapons management.
Kokumo also reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to upholding strict standards in armoury management and supporting regional stability through effective arms control measures.