Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
DHQ concerned over proliferation of arms, light weapons
Modupe Shodeinde
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said the proliferation of small arms and light weapons poses a systemic threat to the country.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, who was represented by AVM T. O. Yusuf, said this at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements.
The public hearing was on “A Bill For An Act To Enable Effect Be Given, In The Federal Republic Of Nigeria, To The ECOWAS Convention On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Their Ammunition And Other Related Materials Made In Abuja On June 14, 2006 And For Related Matters.”
Irabor said the Bill was a welcome development, given the threat the proliferation of weapons poses to national well-being.
“On the proposed Bill, it was well received and it is pertinent to state that the DHQ is of the view that proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria poses a systemic threat to the nation’s long-term socio-economic development as well as security,” he said.
The Chairman of the committee, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, said out of the over 400 treaties and agreements Nigeria had signed, only 11 had been domesticated.
He said: “It means we are not moving forward. Under my headship as chairman of this committee, we have already forwarded about 25 domestications, the first of its kind, since 1999 and we intend to reach up to 50 to 100 to domesticate in the next two years. We feel that the Nigeria people must be able to derive some benefits of what our fathers and the current people who have gone to represent Nigeria to sign these agreements.”
The lawmaker said the Bill passed second reading at the plenary on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 and was referred to the committee for further legislative action.
“It is for this purpose that we now hold this interactive session with you as good representatives of your respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, including the civil society organisations, as development partners, the press and the general public,” he said.
