President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday took another conscious step towards the mopping up of existing Small Arms and Light Weapons, which have fueled insecurity across the country.
He urged the Senate to pass two bills seeking to control small arms, light weapons and explosives.
Also on Tuesday, Defence Minister Bashir Magashi briefed the House of Representatives Committee on Defence on the recent agreement with Russia aimed at tackling insecurity.
In August, Nigeria and Russia signed an agreement for the Russian Armed Forces to train and supply the Nigerian Armed Forces.
It was signed in Moscow by Magashi and the Director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Dmitry Shugaev.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan read President Buhari’s letters on the floor during plenary.
The President said the Bill on the control of small arms and light weapons sought to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons into a National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. The centre will operate under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Buhari’s letter titled: “Transmission of the control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill 2021 to the National Assembly for consideration” reads:
“Pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as emended), I forward herewith, the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill 2021 for the kind consideration by the Senate
“The Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons 2021 seeks to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons into a National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, when fully operationalized, would go a long way at expressing Nigeria’s optimism and practical commitment to the global fight against the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, including the mopping up of existing Small Arms and Light Weapons which have become a significant driver of insecurity across the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In another letter titled: “Transmission of the Explosives Bill 2021 to the National Assembly for contribution,” Buhari said:
“Pursuant to Section 56(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as emended), I forward herewith the Explosives Bill 2021 for the kind consideration by the Senate
“The Explosives Bill 2021 seeks to repeal the Explosives Act 1964 and enact the Explosives Act, to regulate the manufacture, storage, possession, distribution, purchase, sale, transportation, importation, and exportation of explosives and for related matters.”
At the briefing with the House Committee, its chairman, Babajimi Benson, advised that reporters should not be allowed to cover the event due to security implication.
He said: “The minister is here today to honour our invitation for him to shed more light on the recently executed agreement between the Nigerian government and the Russian Federation and as it affects our fight against banditry, insurgency and kidnapping and all other vices we have in Nigeria and also its implications on national security.”
