NSA, Ribadu, pinpoints cause if insecurity in Nigeria

National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has identified the widespread distribution of illegal small arms and light weapons as the primary driver of insecurity and communal violence in Nigeria. During a workshop to review the findings of the 2016 National Baseline Survey on Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ribadu emphasized that these illicit weapons are fueling violent crimes across various regions, including banditry in the North-West, farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central, terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.

He stressed that the proliferation of these weapons is not just a policy issue, but a direct threat to public safety. "Every statistic on illicit weapons represents a community that has lost its peace, a family that has lost a loved one, or a livelihood that has been destroyed," Ribadu warned. According to Ribadu, the country requires accurate and up-to-date data on the scale and nature of illegal arms circulation to effectively combat the issue, rather than relying on estimates.

The 2016 survey provided valuable insights into this problem, leading to the establishment of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) and the creation of a National Action Plan. However, Ribadu urged a thorough review of the existing survey before embarking on a new one, asking, "Before we launch into the next National Baseline Survey, let us examine what worked, what did not, and what changes should be made this time."