by Nurat Uthman
The National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, says President Bola Tinubu has assented to the Bill for the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Ribadu disclosed this during a Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming in Preventing the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria and the West African Sub-region, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of External Affairs, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Amb. Ibrahim Babani, the NSA said that the President’s assent to the bill was a major milestone in the government’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of illegal arms.
According to him, the legislative backing strengthens the Centre’s mandate and paves the way for more coordinated and decisive action.
He also stressed the need for gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
Ribadu said that the workshop was anchored on key international frameworks, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
According to him, the resolution emphasises the critical need to protect women from the impacts of conflict while also ensuring their full participation in peacebuilding and security initiatives.
“Moreover, the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons underscores the collective responsibility of our region in curbing the spread of these dangerous weapons, which disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.
“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of SALW cannot be overstated as it strengthens our strategies, and ensures that our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable,” he said.
