...Pledges to Champion Creation of State Offices By Awwal Umar Kontagora Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has i...
...Pledges to Champion Creation of State Offices
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has inaugurated the North-Central Zonal Office of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), established by the Office of the National Security Adviser, in Minna.
Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Bago described the commissioning of the edifice as a significant milestone under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Acknowledging the serious security challenges facing the North-Central region, which he said have led to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, Governor Bago pledged to champion the establishment of NCCSALW offices in all states within the zone.
He also called for collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser to create a North-Central Security Committee that would address the region’s unique security concerns.
The Governor further advocated for a partnership aimed at utilizing ungoverned spaces in Niger State for agriculture, in alignment with federal and state policies on food security.
He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and the Director-General of NCCSALW for siting the centre in Minna.
Speaking on behalf of the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of NCCSALW, retired DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, said the zonal office represents a strategic move to bring the fight against illicit arms closer to the people.
According to him, the facility will serve as a regional hub for strategic operations, intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement on arms control.
He commended the National Security Adviser for his visionary leadership and thanked Governor Bago for providing an enabling environment for the project.
In separate goodwill messages, representatives of the governors of Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Nasarawa States acknowledged the threat posed by illicit arms in the region. They pledged collective action toward improving regional security and applauded the establishment of the zonal office.
Providing an overview of the region’s security landscape, Lt. Col. Sani Uba noted that the North-Central states share borders with countries affected by high levels of banditry and arms trafficking. He said this contributes to the influx of arms and bandits into the region.
He expressed confidence that the presence of the NCCSALW office will significantly curb the spread of illicit arms, not only in the zone but across the country.
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