The Director of the Southwest zone of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), retired Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alamutu, has visited the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) as part of his tour of Lagos.
Alamutu’s visit was aimed at seeking institutional support for the Centre’s operations in Lagos State.
The NCCSALW official met with the LSSTF Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, at the Fund’s headquarters.
During the meeting, Alamutu noted that several security agencies in Lagos have benefited from LSSTF’s intervention programmes.
He urged the Fund to extend similar support to the NCCSALW to enhance its activities in the state.
Alamutu stressed that the NCCSALW was created to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons across Nigeria.
He explained that the Centre was established on 3 May 2021 by then President Muhammadu Buhari through a presidential directive.
According to him, the creation of the Centre aligns with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
He added that a formal act establishing the Centre was signed in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NCCSALW, he said, operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Alamutu stated that the Centre maintains offices across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
He said personnel of the Centre were drawn from the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies.
The retired police chief emphasised that cooperation from stakeholders in Lagos was vital to reducing the circulation of illicit weapons.
He appealed to the LSSTF to assist the Centre in boosting its operational capacity.
In his response, LSSTF CEO Ogunsan commended the NCCSALW for its efforts to address the spread of illegal weapons.
Ogunsan described the task of controlling arms proliferation as challenging, given Nigeria’s widespread security issues.
He expressed appreciation for the leadership of the NCCSALW, including National Coordinator retired DIG Johnson Kokumo and Alamutu.
The LSSTF head reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting security agencies operating in Lagos.
He said the organisation prioritises initiatives that contribute to the safety and security of the state.
Ogunsan assured that the NCCSALW would receive support in logistics, equipment and capacity building for its officers.
