Nigeria Holds 70% of West Africa’s 11 Million Illegal Arms — NCCSALW
Calabar, Nigeria – The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has revealed a startling security concern: Nigeria is responsible for 70 per cent of the 11 million illicit arms and light weapons circulating in West Africa.
Alex Ebimiebo, the South-South Zonal Director of the NCCSALW, disclosed this during the Naval Warfare Course 9 Inter-Agency Seminar hosted by the Naval War College in Calabar on Thursday.
Speaking on the sidelines, Mr. Ebimiebo told PulseNets that his presentation, titled “Strengthening Security Agencies’ Collaboration to Counter Illicit Arms Proliferation for Enhanced National Security in Nigeria”, addressed the urgent need for unified action against illegal arms trafficking.
According to him, the unchecked spread of illicit weapons is a driving force behind Nigeria’s 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and over 26,000 refugees in neighbouring countries.
“Arms proliferation has led to economic distortions, increased violence and crime, and an impediment to peace-building,” he reported.
He stressed that security is the responsibility of everyone, urging a nationwide push to confront the menace head-on.
“So, as a result, everybody is a stakeholder, so as such, we need to involve the whole society in this fight, and the centre has a lot of programmes for collaboration with our sister agencies. We also have advocacy and sensitisation programmes that we take to members of the general public from time to time,” he added.
PulseNets learnt from Akinola Oludude, the Commandant of the Naval War College, that the steady inflow of illegal arms into Nigeria since 2020 is partly due to its 4,470-kilometre porous land borders with the Republic of Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
He further noted that Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and its maritime exposure to the Gulf of Guinea compound the problem.
Oludude cited NCCSALW’s 2021 survey, which revealed that over six million illegal weapons are currently in circulation within the country, with 70 per cent in the hands of non-state actors.
“The impact of this illicit arms proliferation is profound and multifaceted. These weapons bred various forms of insecurity, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal clashes, and armed robbery,” he told PulseNets.
Calling for stronger security partnerships, he emphasised:
“Inter-agency collaboration is needed to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons. No single agency, no matter how well-resourced or how well-dedicated, can effectively tackle the complex challenge alone. Therefore, this seminar provides a vital platform for us to collectively examine the complexities of this complex challenge.”
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Kennedy Ezete, urged participants to transform the seminar’s discussions into concrete, actionable strategies.
“We must ensure that the suggestions and way forward developed here are implemented effectively and that the partnerships forged are sustained. This requires a commitment from all stakeholders, including the leadership of our security agencies and the wider community,” he told PulseNets.
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Ezete encouraged participants to share knowledge gained, adopt recommended strategies, and maintain collaborative momentum.
“Share your experiences, implement the strategies that have been suggested, and continue to work collaboratively to counter illicit arms proliferation. We must also continue to invest in training, technology, and intelligence gathering to enhance our capabilities,” he said.
