ECOWAS: Warns West Africa States on Legal Arms Diversion Threat

• ECOWAS has warned member states about the national security threat posed by the diversion of legally acquired arms for illicit purposes in West Africa.
• The warning was issued during a five-day training in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, organized by ECOWAS and the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies.
• Nigeria's National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has destroyed over 17,000 weapons and 20,000 rounds of ammunition since its 2021 inception.
• ECOWAS emphasized that comprehensive stockpile management, including accurate inventory and timely destruction of surplus weapons, is crucial to prevent diversion, theft, and accidental explosions.
• The NCCSALW focuses on capacity building for law enforcement and prioritizes weapons management, physical security, and stockpile control.

Comprehensive and effective stockpile management is not merely a technical administrative function but a core element of national security.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a significant caution to its member states, highlighting the severe national security risks associated with the diversion of legally acquired firearms for illicit purposes. This critical warning was delivered during a five-day "In-Security Training on Physical Security, Stockpile Management and Property Management for National Security in Nigeria," which recently concluded in Port Harcourt.

Mr. Abayomi Adeomi, the Acting Head of the Small Arms Division at ECOWAS, emphasized that while considerable attention is often directed towards illegal arms importation across borders, equal vigilance is required to prevent the diversion of weapons from authorized national stockpiles. He stressed that comprehensive and effective stockpile management is not merely a technical administrative function but a core element of national security.

The training program, a collaborative initiative between the ECOWAS Small Arms Division and the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), aims to translate regional commitments into practical capacity-building measures for member states. Mr. Adeomi commended the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), and the Rivers State Government for their support in hosting this vital event, which comes at a time of complex and persistent security challenges across the West African region.

In a related development, Nigeria's National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) reported substantial progress in its mission to curb illicit arms proliferation. Since its establishment in 2021, the Centre has overseen the destruction of over 17,000 unserviceable, obsolete, and decommissioned weapons, alongside more than 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunition.

This information was shared by Director-General Johnson Kokumo, represented by Zonal Director South-South, Alex Ebimiebo, during the Port Harcourt training. Ebimiebo explained that the Federal Government created NCCSALW in 2021 to provide a more permanent and robust institutional framework for addressing the widespread issue of small arms and light weapons. This built upon the work of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOTT), which was inaugurated in 2013 as a multi-agency mechanism to coordinate national efforts.

The NCCSALW continues to prioritize capacity building for Nigeria's armed forces, police, and other law enforcement agencies, with a particular focus on weapons and ammunition management, physical security, and effective stockpile management. These efforts underscore Nigeria's commitment to West Africa arms control compliance and mitigating the risks of legal arms diversion.

The ECOWAS warning underscores that robust stockpile management is a fundamental pillar for national security, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. Mr. Adeomi detailed that such management involves several critical components: maintaining accurate inventory displays, ensuring discipline across national stockpiles held by member states, conducting routine inspections, adhering to safe handling procedures, and deploying competently trained personnel.

Furthermore, the timely destruction of surplus and unserviceable weapons is identified as a crucial aspect. Together, these measures form a vital barrier against the diversion, theft, loss, and accidental explosions of firearms, which could otherwise exacerbate regional instability.

The collaboration between ECOWAS and the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies in delivering specialized training highlights the regional body's strategic approach to enhancing practical capacity building. This proactive stance is essential for promoting accountable security sector governance and strengthening overall West Africa arms control compliance in the face of ongoing security threats.

Lawyers and compliance officers should advise clients involved in the legal acquisition or management of firearms in West Africa, particularly Nigeria, to review and strengthen their physical security, stockpile management, and inventory control protocols. This is crucial to mitigate risks of diversion, avoid potential regulatory penalties, and ensure compliance with evolving regional and national efforts to prevent illicit arms proliferation.

Source: Original reporting via regional news outlet