The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday seeking to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons. The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report submitted by the Chairman of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ibrahim Gobir.
Gobir said the passed bill is a consolidation of three bills that would appropriately cater for the establishment of a Commission to implement measures aimed at eradicating illicit trade of Small and Light Weapons (SALWs).
He said the Commission would function in line with United Nations Treaties and article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Analysts have argued that the circulation of illegal arms in Nigeria is greatly contributing to the high level of insecurity nationwide; therefore, the establishment of the arms control commission is expected to improve the country’s national security.
