Maureen Okpe
The Director General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd) have called for continued collaboration from states and other relevant stakeholders and partners to achieve the Centre’s goal of ensuring peace and security across the nation.
According to a statement signed by the Group Captain Pius Okwuego, Director, Strategic Communications and Information NCCSALW, and made available to Global Sentinel DIG Kokumo made the call during the maiden familiarization visit to the NCCSALW North West Zonal Office in Kaduna on 24 October 2024.
The visit was part of his familiarisation working tour of all NCCSALW Zonal Offices, aimed at assessing current operational activities and strengthening collaboration with stakeholders while acquainting himself firsthand with the location, personnel, and activities of the zonal office.
He expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State Government for the provision of land for the construction of a permanent office for the NCCSALW North West Zone.
In his remarks, DIG Kokumo conveyed greetings from the National Security Adviser and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the North West Zonal Office.
He highlighted the critical link between insecurity and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. He noted the recent assent of the Centre’s Bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, which now provides the Centre with the legal backing to fully execute its mandate.
The DG reiterated the importance of synergy between the Centre and arms-bearing agencies, as well as the essential role of collaboration with security forces, religious bodies, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The statement disclosed that “Kokuma warned against impostors misusing the name of the Centre and emphasized NCCSALW’s readiness to prosecute offenders. Additionally, the DG acknowledged the receipt of 844 seized weapons intercepted at Onne by the Nigerian Customs Service, with 10 suspects linked to illegal arms importation currently undergoing prosecution.”
Kokumo reiterated the Centre’s mandate to curb the proliferation of illicit weapons and sought continued collaboration with the Kaduna State Government and other stakeholders.
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He further discussed the recent destruction of over 2,400 illicit weapons at the Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment in Abuja on 17 October 2024, emphasizing the phased destruction of many more weapons still in the Centre’s custody.
Following the visit to the Zonal Office, the DG and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Government House Kaduna. Proceeded to inspect the Zonal Centre’s permanent office site, which is still under construction, as well as the proposed armoury site at the 1 Base Ordnance Depot, marking the conclusion of the working visit.