Retired Deputy Inspector General Johnson Kokumo, the National Coordinator of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSLAW), warned that diversion of weapons procured by the government remains a serious threat. He delivered the warning during the inauguration of a capacity‑development programme on Arms Physical Security and Stockpile Management for security agencies in Abuja on Monday.
Kokumo said persistent lapses in weapons management weaken national security, noting that weak control systems create "dangerous vulnerabilities in armoury oversight." He cited assessments suggesting that a "significant portion of illegal arms in circulation today passed through official channels at some point." The coordinator stressed that weapons in official custody must be secured, documented and strictly monitored to avoid empowering criminal and terrorist groups.
He identified poor record‑keeping, weak oversight and inadequate storage as the main gaps that need urgent reform. NCCSLAW is working with national and international partners to improve audit systems, stockpile security and compliance frameworks.
Jacob Nyaga, Operations Manager of the Halo Trust, explained that the three‑phase training – targeting armoury stock keepers, senior managers and future trainers – was organised with NCCSLAW and funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He said the initiative aims to equip personnel with modern skills for effective armoury management and is not a sign of existing capacity gaps, but a move to optimise current systems and sustain internal capability without external dependence. (NAN)
Johnson Kokumo's stark warning that official arms are leaking into criminal hands places the responsibility squarely on the agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation's weapon stockpiles. His assertion that "a significant portion of illegal arms in circulation today passed through official channels" signals a breach that goes beyond isolated incidents.
The statement comes at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with illicit arms trafficking that fuels insurgency and banditry. Weak record‑keeping, inadequate storage and insufficient oversight, as highlighted by Kokumo, create loopholes that enable weapons to slip from government inventories into the hands of armed groups, undermining ongoing counter‑terrorism and law‑enforcement operations.
For ordinary Nigerians, the fallout could be felt in higher rates of violent crime and more frequent attacks by militants, especially in regions already plagued by insecurity. Communities near poorly secured armories risk becoming inadvertent supply points for weapons that threaten lives and livelihoods.
The programme's reliance on foreign funding and external expertise, while practical, also reflects a broader pattern of Nigeria seeking outside assistance to patch systemic governance gaps. If the training succeeds, it may set a precedent for more structured, self‑sufficient security management, but the underlying institutional weaknesses will require sustained domestic commitment to change.
