Office of the National Security Adviser-ONSA says efforts of the federal government in addressing proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons is yielding positive results.
Co-ordinator, National Centre for Control of Small Arms and light weapons, Major General Abba Mohammed Dikko (rtd) stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Centre in Kaduna.
Major General Abba Mohammed Dikko (rtd) explained that the centre had recovered over three thousand illicit small arms and light weapons from various theatres of operations as well as those who willingly surrendered their arms in the past eighteen months.
The co-ordinator said the centre collaborates with government agencies and stakeholders at different levels through capacity building to nip core societal issues of concern in the bud.
He disclosed that the centre would identify the ingenuity of people and mainstream them into the military industrial complex with a view to becoming self reliant in weapon manufacturing and reduce importation.
The co-ordinator pointed out that the centre was in the process of providing a data base for legitimate and illegitimate arms in the country so as to advise government on the lines to take in terms of weapon and ammunition management.
Major General Dikko(rtd) added that the centre had also established zonal offices across the six geo-political zones to extend its outreach with the mandate to addressing peculiar challenges affecting each zone.
Usman Sani
