By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Borno State Governor. Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has
expressed willingness in providing an enabling environment for the
National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), under the Office of the National Security Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, to operate and achieve its aims and objectives.
The Governor made the pledge while speaking during a dinner and interactive meeting organised for the NCCSALW leadership led by the Director General of the Centre, Johnson Kokumo and other security stakeholders, at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Babagana Zulum also pledged his administration’s continued support to the NCCSALW in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.
Represented by Brig:-Gen Ishak, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, the Governor appreciated the meeting and commended the Centre for its efforts in addressing the menace of illicit arms proliferation in the region.
Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Centre, Johnson Kokumo, said that the Centre has intensified partnering with relevant authorities across the country in order to curtail the menace of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the country.
He said that it was yo this end, that he paid a three-Day working visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, solidifying partnerships with stakeholders in ensuring that the proliferation of arms and ammunition was completely eradicated in the Northeastern subregion.
The DG, who was represented by Brig:- Gen. M.S Adamu, Director of Administration and Finance, NCCSALW, explained that the Centre was working in collaboration with all stakeholders in the country to mop up all Small Arms and Light Weapons for onward destruction.
He added that the the Centre has been mandated by the Federal Government to prosecute any individual involved in the proliferation of illicit weapons in the country and is therefore seeking for more support and collaboration from all stakeholders in the country.
According to him, the NCCSALW was established by an Act of the National Assembly in 2024 to curb the proliferation, illicit possession, trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
He added that the North East Zonal Centre which has its headquarters in Maiduguri, has jurisdiction over Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States.
Also speaking, Maj:-Gen. Abubakar Adamu (Rtd), the North East Zonal Director of NCCSALW, reaffirmed the commitment of the Centre in sustaining collaboration with all necessary stakeholders to ensure effective control, accountability and lawful management of recovered small arms and light weapons.
Other stakeholders present at the engagement included; the Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society Organisation Network, Borno and Barrister Zana Mustapha, an influential humanitarian and Solicitor, the Borno State Coordinator of NYSC and representatives of DSS, NDLEA, Immigration, Custom, Civil Defense, senior staff of the Centre among others.
Some other highlights of the DG’s visit included an extensive meeting with the staff of the Centre where he urged them to be focused and diligent in discharging their responsibilities, the supervision of the construction of the NorthEast permanent site of the Centre and a courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander, Operation HANDI KAI (OPHK), Maj:-Gen. A.E Abubakar as well as the inspection of a land for armoury construction.
A cross section of stakeholders at the interactive dinner
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