Security
NIREC Hails PMB, Nigerians Over Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons
The Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the ratification of the United Nations (UN) Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
NIREC under the leadership of its co-chairmen, the Sultan of Sokoto and president-general of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention who doubles as the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Samson Ayokunle, in a statement made available to the media, also lauded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for following up to make the ratification of the UN Treaty possible.
Rev. Samson Ayokunle
The statement said as people all over the world are marking the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, “Nigeria, Ireland and Niue” have chosen to remember the victims and honour the hibakusha, the survivors, in the most meaningful way possible, by taking action to ban and eliminate these weapons of mass destruction for good.
The statement reads in part: “While congratulating Nigerians and the Federal Government of Nigeria for this bold step at the International level, NIREC once again calls on government at all levels to sign into law the prohibition of the proliferation of arms and ammunition in Nigeria.
“Given that charity begins at home, the leadership of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must set a day aside to remember all the victims that have been killed by terrorists, bandits and all forms of criminals in Nigeria” .
Sa’ad Abubakar
Sultan of Sokoto
NIREC, however, called for compensation for the displaced victims of violence and security for them to return to their native land.
“Government must provide adequate security for the Nigerian citizens to enjoy peaceful coexistence irrespective of tribe, political affiliation and religion. NIREC is affiliated to the African Council of Religious Leaders and Religions for Peace (ACRL-RfP),” the statement added.
The development was made known at a workshop focused on gender mainstreaming in efforts to curb the spread of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop was organized by the NCCSALW. Ribadu, represented by the Director of External Affairs from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Amb. Ibrahim Babani, described the president’s assent as a crucial step in the government’s fight against the illegal proliferation of arms.
He noted that this legislative backing would solidify the centre’s authority and facilitate more coordinated efforts to tackle the issue.
Ribadu also emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming in addressing the arms control problem, citing key international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
This resolution underscored the need to protect women from the impacts of conflict and ensure their active participation in peacebuilding and security initiatives.
AIG (rtd) Nuhu Ribadu
National Security Adviser
He also referenced the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which highlights regional cooperation in stopping the spread of weapons that disproportionately affect women and children in conflict zones.
“The importance of gender mainstreaming in preventing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons cannot be overstated,” Ribadu said. “It strengthens our strategies and ensures our approach to security is inclusive and sustainable.”
Speaking at the workshop, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, detailed the centre’s recent efforts in combating illegal arms proliferation.
Kokumo mentioned that the centre recently retrieved a substantial cache of illegal arms from the Nigeria Customs Service and arrested 10 suspects involved in illicit importation. These suspects are currently being prosecuted for offenses that include the illegal importation of 544 firearms and 112,500 rounds of ammunition, in violation of Nigerian law.
Kokumo further revealed that the centre has retrieved 3,383 decommissioned and illicit small arms, along with 26,749 rounds of ammunition, from various government agencies. He also announced plans for an Arms Destruction Exercise later this quarter to ensure that recovered arms are permanently removed from circulation.
Highlighting the global implications of small arms proliferation, Kokumo said, “The control of small arms and light weapons is not only a national concern but also a matter of international importance.” He added that addressing this issue through a gender-sensitive approach is both a moral imperative and a strategic move, considering the grave impact of armed conflict on women and children.
“This workshop is a significant step in ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into national and regional strategies for small arms and light weapons control,” he stated.
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