*As ONSA, DSS and NIA shun hearing.
The House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, the Chief of Defence Staff CDS Major Gen.Lucky Irabor and the Importers Association of Nigeria have all approved the prooosal by the House for the domestication of Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS protocols on small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.
Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Osai Nicholas Osai and the critical security stakeholders stated their positions on the need to domesticate the protocols and treaties entered into by the ECOWAS member states on small arms and light weapons at a public hearing on a proposed legislation on these issues on Monday.
The hearing is on a bill that is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Enable Effect to be Given in the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and Other Related Materials Made in Abuja Nigeria on the 14th Day of JUNE 2006 and for Related Matters’ held at the National Assembly.
Speaker of the House Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who was represented by Hon. Benjamin Mzondu (Benue, PDP) who deckared the hearing open said that the nation’s security challenges is manifesting in various ways and needs to be addessed.
He noted that the manifestation of this insecurity is in form small arms and light weapons adding that the bill being considered is to advance solution to insecurity in Nigeria.
He added that there is the need to find a way to control small arms and light weapons even as he encouraged all stakeholders to close ranks to do so in the nation’s interest.
Similarly, Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Ossai Nicholas Ossai in a remark said that the need to domesticate the conventions and protocols entered into and signed by ECOWAS member nations is build trust between them.
He added that the overall objective of the proposal is to control the movement of illicit arms in the states of the ECOWAS.
Also speaking at the hearing, the Chief of Defence Staff CDS Maj-Gen Lucky Irabor represented by Air Vice Marshal T.O Yusuf said that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses danger to national security.
In the same vein, the Inspector-General of Police IGP, Usman Alkali Baba represented by AIG Mohammed Bagege said that Police is totally in support of the proposal to domesticate ECOWAS treaties into our nation’s statutes.
Other critical stakeholders notably the Importers Association of Nigeria also lauded the initiative by the House saying that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in our country has had a multiplier effect on crimes and general insecurity.
Chairman of the Special Taskforce of Importers Association Amb.Chijioke Okoro who represented the association’s leadership said there should be a National Commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
The Chairman of the House Committee Hon.Ossai Nicholas Ossai assured the that the views of these stakeholders at the hearing would form the basis of the proposed law.
He however expressed his displeasure over the absence of the Office of the National Security Adviser ONSA, the Department of State Services DSS and the National Intelligence Agency NIA at the hearing
