By Charles Pemu 
MAIDUGURI — The Federal Government, through the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), has formalized a partnership with the Nigerian Army to intensify the fight against the spread of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) across the country.
The collaboration was sealed on Wednesday during a visit by the NCCSALW Northeast Zonal Coordinator, Major-General Abubakar Adamu (retd), to the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters in Maiduguri.
Major-General Adamu emphasized that the proliferation of these weapons poses a grave threat to peace and economic stability. He explained that the center’s mandate includes preventing arms proliferation, receiving and destroying recovered weapons, and prosecuting gunrunners. He stressed that without the armed forces, “there is no way we can eradicate the proliferation of small arms and light weapons,” highlighting the critical need for intelligence and information sharing.
In response, the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division, Brigadier-General U.V. Unachukwu, assured the center of the Army’s full support. He praised the NCCSALW’s multi-agency approach, which involves the Police, DSS, and other stakeholders, noting that such synergy is crucial for combating the menace of illicit arms and enhancing national security.