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The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen national security, issuing a firm warning against the diversion of officially procured arms into illegal circulation.
The caution was delivered by the National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW), retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Johnson Kokumo, during the inauguration of a capacity development programme in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Kokumo stressed that lapses in weapons management remain a significant threat to the country’s security architecture, noting that weak control systems have created vulnerabilities in armoury oversight.
He revealed that assessments indicate a troubling trend, where a considerable proportion of illegal arms in circulation may have originally come from official stockpiles.
“A significant portion of illegal arms in circulation today passed through official channels at some point,” he stated, underscoring the urgency of reforms.
According to him, despite intensified efforts by security agencies to combat illicit arms proliferation, gaps in stockpile management continue to undermine progress.
He emphasised that all weapons in official custody must be properly secured, accurately documented, and strictly monitored to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
Kokumo warned that any leakage from government-controlled inventories not only fuels criminal activity but also complicates counter-terrorism and internal security operations nationwide.
He further stressed that failure to account for weapons effectively amounts to indirectly empowering criminal networks and terrorist groups operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Identifying key challenges, he pointed to poor record-keeping, weak oversight mechanisms, and inadequate storage facilities as critical issues requiring urgent attention.
To address these gaps, the centre is collaborating with both national and international partners to enhance audit systems, strengthen stockpile security, and improve compliance frameworks across security agencies.
Kokumo reiterated that ensuring accountability and transparency in arms management is not optional but a fundamental pillar of national security.
He affirmed NCCSLAW’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of illicit weapons and reinforcing institutional controls to minimise diversion risks.
Also speaking at the event, Operations Manager of The HALO Trust, Mr. Jacob Nyaga, highlighted the importance of the training programme in building capacity within security agencies.
Nyaga explained that the initiative, organised in collaboration with NCCSLAW and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is designed to equip personnel with modern skills in armoury management.
He disclosed that the programme would be implemented in three phases, beginning with armoury stockkeepers across participating agencies.
The first phase will focus on practical skills such as proper handling, documentation, and accountability of weapons and ammunition.
The second phase will target leadership-level officers, addressing risk assessment, oversight responsibilities, and identification of operational gaps.
According to Nyaga, the final phase will adopt a train-the-trainer model to ensure sustainability, enabling participants to develop training curricula and institutionalise best practices within their organisations.
He clarified that the programme is not a reflection of capacity failure but rather an effort to strengthen and optimise existing systems.
Nyaga expressed confidence that the initiative would empower security agencies to maintain continuous internal capacity-building without reliance on external support.
The development marks a renewed push by the Federal Government to tighten control over arms management and reinforce safeguards against diversion, as part of broader efforts to enhance national security and public safety.
