National Comm Against Proliferation Of Small Arms Bill Passes Second Reading

The bill seeking to establish the National Commission Against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons has passed second reading at the senate.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West said the functions of the Commission when established would among others: identify sources and routes of small arms and ammunitions; identify those involved in the illicit trade; and providing harmonization of intelligence and information collection.

According to senator Adeyemi, the proliferation of small arms and weapons is a phenomenon responsible for destabilizing the peace and development as well as threatening the national security of some countries in Africa.

Noting that the local root causes of conflicts are numerous and diverse, he however, said that in all local conflicts, the diffusion of illegal arms and weapons of terror has played a decisive role in the escalation and intensification of these conflicts.

He expressed concern that the uncontrolled arms have also impacted on the country’s democracy and development negatively.

Meanwhile, the president of the senate Ahmad Lawan referred the bill to the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative imput and to report back in four weeks.

James Itodo/Abuja