Abuja: The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW) has issued a stern warning against the diversion of officially procured weapons. During the inauguration of a capacity development programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management for arms-bearing security agencies in Abuja, retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, the Director-General of the centre, highlighted the ongoing challenges in weapons management that undermine national security efforts.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kokumo emphasized that weak control systems have exposed vulnerabilities in armoury oversight, leading to significant concerns about internal leakage points. He pointed out that assessments suggest a notable portion of illegal arms currently in circulation may have originated from official stockpiles, raising alarms over the need for urgent reforms in stockpile management.
Kokumo stressed the importance of securing weapons in official custody through proper documentation and strict monitoring to prevent their diversion to criminal and armed groups. He warned that any leakage from official inventories not only fuels criminal activities but also complicates counter-terrorism and internal security operations across the country. ‘If we fail to properly account for these weapons, we are indirectly empowering criminal networks and terrorist groups operating within and outside our borders,’ he added, calling for deliberate efforts to secure and account for all official weapons inventories.
Identifying poor record-keeping, weak oversight, and inadequate storage systems as key gaps, Kokumo revealed that the centre is collaborating with national and international partners to strengthen audit systems, enhance stockpile security, and improve compliance frameworks across security agencies. He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to reducing illicit arms flow and strengthening institutional control mechanisms to mitigate diversion risks.
Mr. Jacob Nyaga, Operations Manager of Halo Trust, also spoke at the event, noting that the programme was organised in collaboration with NCCSLAW and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Nyaga explained that the initiative aims to equip personnel with modern skills for effective armoury management and prevention of weapon diversion, running in three phases starting with practical skills for armoury stock keepers.
The second phase will focus on leadership-level stockpile management, including risk assessment and identification of operational gaps, while the final phase will adopt a train-the-trainer model to sustain institutional capacity within security agencies. Nyaga emphasized that the programme is not indicative of existing capacity gaps but an effort to strengthen and optimize current systems, expressing optimism that it will enable agencies to sustain internal capacity-building without external dependence.