By Ruth Dabo
The Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Johnson Kokumo, has identified the diversion of arms from official security stockpiles as one of the greatest threats to national security in Nigeria.
Retired DIG Kokumo stated this during the graduation ceremony of the Capacity Development Programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management held in Abuja. He said weak accountability systems, poor control measures, and insider compromise have contributed to the leakage of weapons meant for national security operations.
According to him, following his appointment as Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, the Centre identified three major sources of small arms proliferation in the country, namely porous borders, illicit local manufacturing networks, and the diversion of weapons from official armouries. He described the diversion of government-owned weapons as the most worrisome challenge because such arms are procured at huge cost for national security purposes.
Retired DIG Kokumo explained that the Centre had prioritised the strengthening of arms physical security and stockpile management across all arms-bearing agencies, stressing that training and capacity development remain sustainable solutions to the problem. He noted that the programme provided participants with practical skills in armoury management, secure storage, weapons marking, transportation, inventory control, and the prevention of unauthorised access to weapons and ammunition.
The NCCSALW Director-General commended implementing partner, The HALO Trust, for providing technical expertise in designing and delivering the training programme. He also appreciated the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands toward promoting peace, security, and arms control initiatives across Africa.
Also speaking, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Ben van Novich, represented by the First Secretary (Policy Affairs), Mrs Dene Traore, said the programme had strengthened participants’ competencies in armoury storekeeping, armoury management, and instructor development.
Mrs Traore noted that accountable weapons and ammunition management systems are critical to safer communities and stronger public trust in security institutions. She added that effective stockpile management reduces the risk of small arms and light weapons falling into the wrong hands while contributing to national and regional stability.
She further praised the programme’s “training the trainers” approach, describing it as vital for building sustainable national capacity within Nigeria’s security institutions.
Mrs Traore also commended the leadership of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons for its commitment to strengthening professionalism in the security sector.
Earlier, the Country Director of The HALO Trust, Richard Goss, said the programme reflected a shared commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and preventing the diversion of weapons into the wrong hands.
Mr Goss stated that safer and more responsible management of weapons and ammunition remains critical to reducing violence and enhancing security in communities affected by conflict.
He commended participants for their dedication throughout the training and urged them to apply the knowledge acquired in promoting best practices in arms management within their respective organisations.
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