The Bill to amend the Firearms Act, 2015 (SB 889) has been read for the Second Time in the Senate. The Bill seeks to prevent the proliferation and enforce the control of firearms.

Leading the debate on the Bill at the plenary session of Tuesday, 8 February 2022, the sponsor, Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa (APC: Niger) stated that the statistics provided by the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), indicates that over 70% of small arms and light weapons proliferated across West Africa can be found in Nigeria. According to him, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on 31 January 2017 confirmed the interception and seizure of 661 riffles imported illegally into the country from China.

In view of the aforementioned instances, Sen. Musa mentioned the highlight of the Bill to include the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework for the control, possession, supply, transfer, use and management of firearms.  He noted that the Bill also empowers the Federal Government to confiscate firearms which are considered to be have been possessed illegally.

Speaking on the existing Firearms Act, 2015, Sen. Musa described the extant law as obsolete and an ineffective instrument for tackling the numerous challenges of arms proliferation across the country. The Bill which was unanimously adopted by lawmakers have been referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative action.