The National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Weapons is against the proposed bill that seeks to permit Nigerians to carry arms for self-defense, stating that the country is not ready for widespread arms-bearing.
The bill, introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko from Delta North Senatorial District, aims to give Nigerians the right to bear arms as a means of protecting themselves from criminals.
Nwoko believes that allowing citizens to carry arms could act as a deterrent to criminals and potentially help address the country’s escalating security challenges.
However, the South-West Coordinator of the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Weapons, Ben Akinlade, expressed concerns in an interview, stating that legalizing civilian arms possession might lead to increased violence rather than reducing it.
Akinlade, a former director of the Department of State Services, emphasized that arming the population is not the solution to Nigeria’s security problems and pointed to the United States’ struggles with gun violence as a cautionary example.
He argued that Nigeria is not ready for widespread arms-bearing and that allowing it could have detrimental effects, as seen in other countries where such laws have led to misuse of firearms and increased crime rates.
Akinlade highlighted the risks associated with legalizing arms possession, emphasizing that it could make it harder for security agencies to combat criminal activities and potentially result in more harm than good.