Buhari approves National Centre for Control of Small Arms

… Appoints Dikko national coordinator

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) with Major-General A.M Dikko as its pioneer National Coordinator. 

  The centre, which is to be domiciled in the office of the National Security Adviser to the President replaced the defunct Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons and shall serve as the institutional mechanism for policy guidance, research and monitoring of all aspects of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria.

  Head, Strategic Office of the National Security Adviser, Z M Usman, in a release on Monday, said the establishment of the centre was part of ongoing restructuring of security architecture to address emerging threats and strengthen regional mechanism for the control, prevention and regulation of SALW.

   According to the statement, the impact of the proliferation of SALW across national borders and the Sahel region has resulted in terrorism, human trafficking, organised crime, and insurrections in West.

  “Therefore, as one of the measures in tackling this threat, the new centre will be fulfilling the requirements of the ECOWAS Moratorium on import, export, and manufacture of Light Weapons as well as the UN Plan of Action to prevent, combat, and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW.

  “The NCCSALW will serve as the National Focal Point on SALW in  Ministries, Departments, Agencies and the Civil Society in implementing all national, UN and ECOWAS Plans of Action on the control of SALW

  The centre will maintain international cooperation and also operate zonal offices in the six geopolitical zones to ensure quick response and effective mobilisation of resources”.

  The pioneer National Coordinator, Major General AM Dikko (rtd) has served in various capacities in and outside Nigeria. He was a Course Director at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre and Chief Instructor of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre.

  He has vast experience working with the ECOWAS and the UN system and is expected to operationalise the objectives of the NCCSALW.