The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has warned that individuals found in possession of unlicensed firearms will face a 10-year prison sentence.
The warning was issued by the South-East Zonal Director of NCCSALW, Okechukwu Ugo, during an interactive session with the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, at the Godwin Ezemo International Press Centre in Awka.
Ugo stressed that firearm ownership in Nigeria requires a license from the Inspector General of Police. He explained that the NCCSALW’s mandate aligns with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which seeks to curb the spread of illegal arms, a key driver of insecurity in the country.
He further noted that the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2024, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 4, 2024, empowers the centre to tackle the proliferation of illicit arms. He called for collaboration between the centre and NUJ Anambra State Council to raise public awareness on the dangers of illegal arms possession.
In response, NUJ Anambra State Council Chairman, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, assured that the union would support the centre’s efforts, acknowledging that the initiative would help reduce crime in the region.
