Godsgift Onyedinefu
The Federal government through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) is set to establish a Zonal Centre in Enugu State to tackle the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons(SALW) across the county.
National Coordinator of the Centre, Major General Abba Mohammed Dikko (rtd) led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on 22 February 2022. The Centre in a statement on Wednesday signed by its Spokesperson, Air Commodore Ewejide Akintunde, the National Coordinator during the call, notified the Governor of the Centre’s decision to establish a Zonal Headquarters in the state under its mandate of eradicating the spread of illicit arms in the polity.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the establishment of NCCSALW on 3 May 2021 following the review and implementation of the security architecture of Nigeria. Domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), the Centre has since commenced efforts towards operationalising the Centre’s core functions.
Part of the Centre’s ongoing initiatives to actualise its mandate is the establishment of Zonal centres in the 6 Geo-political zones for the achievement of a peaceful and arms-free Nigeria.
According to the statement, the courtesy call afforded a platform to discuss the impact of the circulation of illicit arms within the society and areas of cooperation between NCCSALW, Enugu State and indeed the Eastern geopolitical zone in the whole-of-nation effort at preventing and controlling the proliferation of SALW in the society.
The National Coordinator commended the Governor‘s “immense efforts” towards ensuring a peaceful and secure Enugu State. He then solicited support, calling on the Governor to support the Centre’s vision of ridding Nigeria of illicit arms in the society.
He noted that the Zonal Centre would serve as a solid platform for quick response and discharge of resources as well as ensure seamless implementation of policies and expeditious arrest and prosecution of criminals in possession of SALW.
In his response, Governor Ugwuanyi commended the timely initiative of establishing the Zonal Centre in Enugu. He identified with NCCSALW and recognised the Centre as the organization mandated to prevent and control the proliferation of SALW in Nigeria towards strengthening peace and security in the society. Accordingly, he pledged to support the Centre in the establishment of the Zonal Centre in a choice area in Enugu.