By Victor Akaa.
The National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLW) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the menace of arms proliferation in Nigeria through a robust collaboration with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Major Haruna Mohammed Sani, Deputy Director Information and Media DICON, in a statement said the partnership seeks to harness DICON’s expertise in weapon manufacturing and management to strengthen NCCSLW’s efforts in preventing illicit arms circulation, trafficking, and proliferation.
This significant development emerged during a courtesy visit by DICON’s Director General, Major General Aniedi Effiong Edet, to the NCCSLW headquarters in Abuja.
During the visit, the Director General, DIG Johnson Babatunde (retired) underscored the imperative of synergy between the two organizations, leveraging DICON’s status as critical national infrastructure to combat the security challenges posed by small arms and light weapons.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the NCCSLW bill into law and providing the institution with the requisite legal framework to execute its mandate.
In his remarks, Major General Edet lauded NCCSLW’s pivotal role in combating insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges and pledged DICON’s readiness to collaborate for mutual benefits.
He emphasized the potential for job creation for Nigeria’s youth through this partnership, aligning with broader efforts to address unemployment.
The strategic alliance underscores Nigeria’s commitment to regional and international obligations, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Enugu Reporters gathered that the key areas of collaboration include weapon marking, tracking, and systematic destruction, as well as joint research and development of innovative solutions.
