The German government has handed over a newly constructed containerised armoury to the Nigerian Police Force in a renewed effort to combat the illegal proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.
The facility was officially presented on June 17, 2025, at the FCT Police Command Headquarters in Abuja by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Annett Günther.
The project, implemented by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), forms part of a broader regional intervention supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Speaking during the handover, Ambassador Günther emphasised the importance of strong international cooperation in addressing insecurity, saying the project’s success is a reflection of effective partnerships. According to her, the collaboration between MAG, Nigerian institutions, and regional actors shows the power of collective effort in promoting peace and stability.
The project aims to reduce the human cost of armed violence in the Sahel and West Africa. It focuses on strengthening the capacity of state and security agencies to manage weapons effectively, building community resilience, and encouraging cooperation across borders to address the risks posed by small arms and light weapons.
Since its launch, the initiative has recorded significant milestones. MAG has delivered over 1,300 risk education sessions, reaching more than 22,000 people in vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
Personnel from the security and defence sectors have also benefited from capacity-building efforts. Fifty-six officers were trained in armoury storekeeping, while another twenty-four were trained in armoury management. In addition, ten officers received training in weapons marking, and another ten in weapons cutting.
The highlight of these efforts is the delivery of the containerised armoury, designed to ensure the safe and secure storage of small arms and ammunition. The facility is expected to enhance accountability and prevent diversion of weapons into the wrong hands.
In the coming months, MAG and its partners will intensify efforts in high-risk areas by continuing to deliver small arms risk education. The organisation will also support the NCCSALW in destroying obsolete weapons and further securing stockpiles as part of the long-term strategy to reduce armed violence.
The Nigeria Police has welcomed the intervention as a timely and strategic boost to its operational readiness, especially in the face of growing concerns over arms trafficking and violence in some parts of the country.
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