At the Senate’s plenary session of Wednesday, 19 February 2020, a Bill seeking to establish a National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons passed second reading.
The Bill which is sponsored by Sen. Smart Adeyemi (APC: Kogi) seeks to coordinate and implement activities that focus on combatting problems associated with the use, supply, sale and distribution of weapons across the country. Sen. Adeyemi noted the objectives of the Bill to include:
- Identifying the main sources of supply and distribution routes of small arms, ammunitions and weapons;
- Building synergy and collaboration among relevant agencies responsible for addressing issues relating to proliferation of arms;
- Ensuring the prosecution and imprisonment of illegal weapon smugglers; and
- Identifying measures to monitor, control and standardize the importation of weapons.
Sen. Adeyemi also expressed dismay in his submission over the incessant security challenges in Nigeria which have been driven by the illicit distribution of weapons. He further noted that the uncontrolled use of arms had resulted in violent conflicts varying from kidnapping, armed banditry, ethno-religious crisis and electoral violence. Also, he mentioned that the Bill if passed, will further curb insecurity challenges in the country. According to Sen. Adeyemi, the total projections and estimates of financial expenditure for the establishment of the Commission in the first year following the commencement of the Act will cost N521, 920, 123.25 (Five Hundred and Twenty One Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Three Naira, Twenty Five Kobo)
However, not all Senators were in support of the passage of the Bill at this stage. For example, Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP: Anambra) was of the view that the Senate should suspend consideration of the Bill until it had deliberated on the report of its Ad-hoc Committee that was constituted by the Senate President to review the security architecture in the country. Sen. Oduah was of the belief that lawmakers would be in a better position to make input on the Bill after the Ad-hoc Committee had concluded its legislative assignment and presented its report for consideration.
Despite the objection, the Bill was nevertheless referred to the Committee on National Security and Intelligence who are to report its findings within 4 weeks.
