Paschal Emeka, Abuja
As the House of Representatives passed the bill to establish the National Commission for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, NATCOM in Nigeria a coalition of Civil Societies Organizations believed that the creation of the Commission is a measure to help advance the war against insecurity.
This is a concurrence to the same bill recently passed by the Senate.
A statement from the media office of the Coalition says there was also an urgent need to complement the government’s efforts in creating gainful employment for the teeming youth population as well as boosting the nation’s economy aside from security.
The Coalition salutes the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and all other Distinguished Senators, House of Representatives Speaker Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and all the Honorable members of the House, the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno retired, and other stakeholders especially Civil Society Organizations, and the media.
They also lauded Dr. Baba Mohammed who championed the need in a presentation to the public hearing for the need to establish NATCOM in line with article 24 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on the proliferation of small arms and light Weapons to which Nigeria is signatory, for recognizing the need to bring a proliferation of illegal arms and light weapons to an end in the country.
The coalition appealed for a quick Presidential assent to the bill.