The Nigerian navy says some neighbouring
countries do not have armouries, making it difficult for Nigeria to fight arms
proliferation.
Awwal Gambo, chief of naval
staff, who was represented by Jemila Sadiq Abubakar, a commodore, spoke on
Monday at a public hearing organised by the house of representatives committee
on national security and intelligence on the consideration of four security
bills.
While making a contribution to
the bill seeking to establish a national commission against the proliferation
of small arms and light weapons, Abubakar said the weapons donated by developed
countries to neighbouring nations are “compounding” Nigeria’s security
challenges.
She said the lack of armouries in some of the neighbouring countries makes arms available to their security operatives who in turn sell it off when they are “broke”.
“Section 9 (1) suggests an
additional function of proposing a seized weapons and arms be used by security
agencies; I think we can look at the provisions of the international convention
on the issue of how the arms should be used when seized,” she said.
“Other sections have been
addressed by our colleagues, so I’m sure their presentations have been
submitted.
“I want to contribute to the
coming seminar on the operation of arms to be organised by the house of
representatives.
“I was in charge as a member of the
fight against Boko Haram and I can tell you categorically here, I stand to be
corrected, that some of these countries that we have borders with have no
armoury.
“They do not have armoury. So
most of their arms that are being donated by — I don’t want to be specific —
the developed countries in the name of assisting us are compounding our
problems in Nigeria because you find out that each average Chadian soldier has
20 to 30 arms underneath his bed. When he is broke, he brings it out and sells
it for $30, $20. I am here, I am standing here, and I am saying it.
“Since we are going to
collaborate with ECOWAS and other countries that are donating such arms to
these countries, I think we should insist that they should either enact laws to
govern the handling of these arms and ammunition or build an armoury for these
countries or else we will not see peace.”
Speaking on the bill to establish
integration of private close circuit television (CCTV) to fight insecurity,
Abubakar said: “I think we should build a wall between us and these
neighbouring countries or we should have serious surveillance or else we will
not see peace in this country. I am telling you this, I have been in that area
for years, so I know what is happening.”
Speaking earlier, Femi
Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, said “knowledge would be drawn from
everywhere,” because security is an important national issue.
“The security agencies are
welcome to make submissions but everyone is welcome to submit as well. I say so
because I want to underscore the fact that security is about everyone and we
are all stakeholders,” he said.
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