The Senate at its plenary session of Tuesday, 26 July 2022, read for the Third Time and Passed the Bill to establish the National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SBs 283, 513 and 794).
Presenting the report of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, the Chairman, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC: Sokoto) stated that the Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of an agency responsible for implementation and coordination of activities aimed at combatting the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
Sen. Gobir explained that the establishment of an institutional framework is in line with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which mandates Member States to establish through a legislation, a National Commission for the fight against the illicit proliferation and circulation of light weapons.
Speaking on the legislative actions conducted on the Bills, Sen. Gobir mentioned that the Committee received memoranda from stakeholders and held roundtable hearings where inputs on the Bills were collated and reviewed. According to him, stakeholders at the hearing unanimously supported the passage of these Bills as the establishment of a National Commission will put in place measures to eradicate the circulation of light weapons which in recent times, has heightened activities of terrorists, bandits, armed robbery, etc.
In conclusion, Sen. Gobir urged lawmakers to support the passage of the Bills as it will assist in safeguarding and addressing the current security situation in the country.
It is expected that the Bill, now passed by the Senate, will be transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
