The National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms, Ammunition, Light Weapons, Chemical Weapons, and Pipeline Vandalism (NATCOM) has announced its commitment to a comprehensive campaign aimed at cracking down on the illegal trade of light weapons, ammunition, and chemical weapons within the next 100 days.
Following allegations of misconduct, the NATCOM Council of Commandants expressed a vote of no confidence in former director general Baba Mohammed and swiftly ratified the appointment of Otumba Adejare Adegbenro as the new acting director general.
Adegbenro, speaking with journalists in Abuja after assuming his new role, highlighted NATCOM’s plan to create 7,000 jobs in each state of Nigeria. This initiative serves as NATCOM’s contribution to mitigating youth restiveness, a critical concern in the country.
The core mandate of NATCOM is to curtail the importation of illegal arms, ammunition, and chemical weapons. This necessitates engaging with individuals at all levels, from fishermen to high-level stakeholders, to ensure compliance with the ECOWAS treaty, which Nigeria signed in 2006.
Adegbenro emphasized the need to halt the influx of ammunition through borders and seas, and stressed the importance of collaborating with other agencies to identify and address these leakages. NATCOM intends to conduct seizures from importers, sellers, and hoarders of illegal weapons through a widespread clampdown, aiming for success through collaborative efforts.
Furthermore, NATCOM aligns with the ECOWAS Commission in combating the importation of illegal arms, small weapons, and chemical weapons. Collaboration with other ECOWAS member states is crucial to minimize and eliminate the flow of these dangerous items across the region.
To achieve their objectives, NATCOM seeks the support of the new government, including the National Assembly. The commission appeals for backing in the form of swift assent to their bill. Recognizing the dire unemployment situation among Nigerian youth, NATCOM aims to provide employment opportunities for at least 7,000 youths from each state in Nigeria within President Bola Tinubu’s first 100 days in office.