describes It as the quickest solution to the nation's security challenges.....

The proposed legal framework to establish the National Taskforce on Prohibition of Illegal Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism (NATFORCE) is attracting more support from stakeholders.


The latest was at a public hearing in Abuja.

This followed the presentation of memoranda at a one day public hearing of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

The Director General of National Taskforce on Prohibition of Illegal, Importation/Smuggling of Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons and Pipeline Vandalism, Dr. Baba Mohammed backed the establishment of a commission for the prohibition of illegal arms and light weapons describing it as long awaited.

The bill according to him intends to domesticate the provisions of the economic community of West African states convention on small arms and light weapons signed by Nigeria in June 2006 and therefore seen as a legal obligation and the necessary first step to address small arms and light weapons problems within a country.

He cited Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cote’divoire, Guinea as countries who have established the Commission to stop killings, kidnappings, banditry.

The NATFORCE Director General also commended the national assembly for ongoing efforts at establishing the commission to checkmate proliferation of small arms and lIght weapons.

He further described the menace as the major challenge confronting the nation and triggering insecurity, adding that establishing a Commission to coordinate arms mop-up was ideal now.

Declaring the public hearing open earlier, the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan linked challenges associated with small and light weapons to crises in the Sahel.

Lawan, who spoke through Senate Deputy minority leader, Senator Shuaibu Lau stressed that the proliferation of weapons has triggered dangerous act of terrorism and time to act is now.

Also speaking Dr. Yakubu Dadu, head of ECOWAS National office at the ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared support for the bill.

The bill he explained is linked to ECOWAS convention, pointing out that it is only Nigeria that has not established a centre to curb proliferation of small and light weapons in the sub region.

Also contributing, the Director General of Coalition of Nigeria Youth, Ambassador Ade Emmanuel supported the bill, he however emphasised that politics should be avoided during the consideration of the bill.

Chairman of the committee on national security and intelligence Senator Ibrahim Gobir promised fairness of the committee in the discharge of the all important Bill.

Source: https://www.naijavoicenews.com/stakeholders-back-proposed-natforce-bill-to-transit-into-a-commission/