The North East office of National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has called for collaboration with Journalists in Borno toward achieving its mandate.
The Zonal Coordinator, Rear Admiral Abdulrahim Mohammed Shuwa (rtd) made the call during a courtesy call to the Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Borno state.
Shuwa said that he chosed NUJ as the first organization to visit outside the military circle inview of its critical role in the society.
He explained that the establishment of the NCCSALW was in line with the requirements of Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention for The Establishment of SALW Commissions by all 15 member states in their collective efforts to eradicate the proliferation of SALW in the region.
“Thus, the NCCSALW is mandated to lead a multi-stakeholder process involving MDAs and civil society organizations in the
implementation of all national, ecowas, and un plans of action on the control of SALW…
“When small arms and light weapons are not mopped up in non-conflict areas, they could easily be used in perpetrating criminal violence or may be used in homicides, suicides, robbery,” Shuwa observed.
In his response on behalf of journalists in Borno, the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Dauda Iliya lauded the establishment of the centre and assured the Journalists support it meeting its mandate.
Iliya said that the public, particularly the people of North East who experienced the Boko Haram were aware of the menace of small arms and how its prevalence has inflicted untold hardship on public as well as affected socio-economic activities in the region.
Shuwa, accompanied by top officials of the zonal office was received by the Chairman of the NUJ, Vice Chairman, Comrade Abdulkareem Haruna, and Secretary of the Council, Chiroma Ali Ibrahim and other top members of the Exco.
Highlight of the occasion is the presentation of power points on core mandate of the centre which is under the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) with Zonal offices in Maiduguri, Ado-Ekiti, Calabar, Kaduna, Enugu and Minna.
