Small Arms: Group Lauds Senate For Passing Bill To Establish Commission

Grassroots Mobilizers for Better Nigeria Initiative has lauded Senate for passing Bill to establish National Commission for the control of Small Arms

The passage of the bill to establish the National Commission for the coordination and control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons by the Senate has continued to receive applause.

One of the latest came from the leadership of the grassroots mobilizers for better Nigeria Initiative.

National Chairperson of the initiative Ambassador Dr. Fatima Mohammed Goni in a statement said it worthy of note is the provision that stipulates that the functions of the body shall be in line with Article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons which came into force in 2009.

The statement urges relevant authorities to consider allowing civilians with strong administrative competences head the commission as obtained in some ecowas countries like Ghana and Liberia where civilians are heading similar Commission.

It will be recalled that the natforce earlier in its presentation to the public hearing that brought about this development had appealed for the establishment of a national commission rather than a centre as obtained in other ecowas member countries.