… to curb firearms proliferation
By Onwa Ekor
The South-South Zonal Office of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has stepped up efforts to curb the spread of illicit small arms and light weapons through stronger partnership with transport unions in Calabar.
At a strategic sensitization session recently, drivers and union leaders were urged to work closely with the Centre to prevent illegal arms from moving through the transport sector, reinforcing both public safety and community security.
South-South Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Alex Ebimiebo, described transport operators as indispensable allies in the fight against insecurity.
“Transporters are critical stakeholders that we need to work with, that is why we are here,” he said, stressing that the session was aimed at creating awareness and strengthening collaboration to prevent the circulation of illegal firearms.
Ebimiebo explained that the Centre was established on May 3, 2021, under Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Highlighting the rationale behind its creation, he said, “Without small arms, insecurity would not have been this widespread. You cannot carry out terrorism, armed robbery, or violent conflict with bare hands; the main instrument is the gun.”
Reasoning that this has become a global concern, the Zonal Coordinator said, wherever you see mass violence or conflict, firearms are involved,
that is why countries are taking deliberate steps to control arms proliferation.
Educating participants on the types of small arms and light weapons, Ebimiebo listed conventional firearms such as AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and pistols, alongside locally fabricated weapons.
“When we talk about illicit arms, we mean weapons not obtained from authorized sources.
“In Nigeria, you must have a license issued by the police to legally possess a firearm,” he explained.
He also noted that firearms are useless without ammunition, making bullets and cartridges a critical part of the proliferation problem.
Warning against the normalization of weapons in communities, he observed that even non-security personnel are increasingly familiar with firearms, urging transporters to remain vigilant, particularly where passengers attempt to offer inducements.
“If someone is unusually eager to pay and discourages you from checking their luggage, you should be suspicious.
“Reject any form of inducement, by doing so, you protect yourself and society,” he cautioned.
Reinforcing the legal perspective, Zonal Legal Adviser Barr. Endurance Asim-Ita warned drivers on the consequences of conveying armed passengers.
“If a passenger in your vehicle is found with illegal weapons, it is not only the park owner who will be charged; the driver will also face prosecution,” she said.
“Ignorance is not an excuse,” Asim-Ita added, maintaining that “the law recognizes different parties to a crime — the person who commits it and the person who assists, whether knowingly or unknowingly, you may still be required to appear in court and defend yourself.”
She urged transport operators to safeguard their future by refusing to serve as channels for illegal arms.
“Management must establish clear policies to ensure luggage and parcels are thoroughly checked. No one should go to prison because something was not properly verified,” she advised.
Supporting the initiative, Ikechi Emmanuel of Cross Lines Company Limited, welcomed the sensitization effort and affirmed that registered transport companies already operate structured security protocols.
“Registered companies are generally compliant with security checks. The real danger comes from unregistered operators who pay little attention to screening passengers and luggage,” he noted, explaining that in his company, luggage inspection is mandatory, and enforcement officers are stationed at loading points during periods of heightened security concern.
Also, John Idorenyin of Akwa Ibom Transport Company and Ekpenyong Edet of the Unified Transport Union, Calabar, shared their day-to-day experiences as transport workers.
They raised practical questions and suggestions aimed at helping companies strengthen security measures and curb the movement of illegal arms, highlighting the need for ongoing collaboration between transport operators, security agencies, and regulatory authorities to ensure safer travel across Nigeria.
