The Southwest Director of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), CP Abiodun Alamutu (retd), has urged the Nigeria Police Force and citizens to support efforts to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
Alamutu made the call during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
He said his visit aimed to strengthen cooperation with the Lagos State Command, noting that limited public knowledge about the Centre had made engagements with stakeholders necessary.
The retired police chief explained that Lagos frequently features in NCCSALW operations due to its status as a national hub for economic and security activity.
Alamutu said national security threats over the years, including terrorism, secessionist movements, and regional unrest, prompted the Federal Government to establish the Centre.
He noted that Nigeria’s shared borders with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, along with instability in neighboring countries, contributed to increased arms inflow.
He added that Nigeria has 84 officially recognized land borders but more than 1,400 illegal routes, making the country vulnerable to illicit weapons trafficking.
The NCCSALW was created on May 3, 2021, by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in line with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Alamutu said the Centre’s establishing bill was later signed into law in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He explained that the Centre operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser and draws personnel from the military, police, intelligence agencies, and other security institutions.
Alamutu said the Centre has offices in all six geopolitical zones, with his team responsible for coordination in the Southwest region.
He appealed for deeper collaboration with the Lagos Police Command, noting that the Centre already works closely with the military and Nigeria Customs Service.
Responding, Lagos Commissioner of Police Jimoh said the control of small arms and light weapons is aligned with international law, including United Nations provisions.
Jimoh described Lagos, with its estimated population of 22 to 25 million, as a jurisdiction requiring heightened vigilance because of its size and crime risks.
He said the command regularly recovers locally fabricated and foreign-made weapons, adding that the sophistication of local firearms now makes tracing their origin more difficult.
The CP pledged full cooperation with the NCCSALW, stating that the police will support all measures aimed at reducing arms proliferation in the Southwest.
