The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in its efforts to curb the proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition across the country.
The Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, gave the assurance when he received the Director-General and National Coordinator of the NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd.), who led other principal officials of the Centre, including the North Central Zonal Director, Abdullahi Eneche, on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Minna.
The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, commended the collaborative efforts between the state government and the Centre since the establishment of the Centre’s North Central Zonal Office in Minna.
Bago assured the Centre that the fight against arms proliferation would not be left solely to the NCCSALW, stressing that the state government would provide the necessary support and facilities required for it to discharge its mandate effectively.
He noted that Niger State was confronted with various security challenges, including banditry and other social vices that posed serious threats to the safety and well-being of residents.
The governor therefore directed the State Ministry of Lands to work out modalities for providing suitable land for the establishment of the Centre’s permanent state office in Niger.
Earlier, the Director-General and National Coordinator of the NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd.), commended Governor Bago for his support and commitment towards the Centre’s operations and objectives.
DIG Kokumo particularly appreciated the governor’s role in facilitating the provision of land that enabled the establishment of the Centre’s North Central Zonal Office in Minna, describing the gesture as a significant contribution to the fight against illicit arms proliferation.
He explained that his visit to Niger State was aimed at familiarising himself with the state and engaging relevant stakeholders in the collective efforts to address the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which he described as a major driver of violent crimes across the country.
According to him, violent crimes would be significantly reduced if illicit weapons were removed from the hands of unauthorised individuals and non-state actors, stressing that the Centre was working with relevant stakeholders nationwide to stem the tide.
He said although the task had been challenging, the objective of achieving a society free from illicit arms remained attainable.
