Farmer Governor Umaru Bago Inaugurates NCCSALW Office Building in Niger State
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has inaugurated the office building of the Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) for the North-Central Zone in Minna. The centre was established by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
During the inauguration, Governor Bago described the development as a milestone achievement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He noted that the North-Central region has been severely affected by insecurity and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. To address this, he pledged to champion the establishment of NCCSALW state offices in the zone.
The governor also advocated for the creation of the North-Central Security Committee to discuss and address region-specific security issues.
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Furthermore, he proposed a partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser to secure ungoverned spaces in the state, supporting federal and state agricultural policies on food security.
The Director-General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokuma (Rtd), representing the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, stated that the centre’s establishment is a crucial step in bringing the fight against illicit arms closer to the people.
He highlighted the office’s role in strategic operations, intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and community engagement.
Representatives of governors from Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Nasarawa states commended the establishment of the zonal office and pledged to collectively combat the proliferation of illicit arms in the North-Central region.
Lt. Col. Sani Uba noted that the region’s shared borders with countries prone to banditry and illicit arms trafficking have contributed to the influx of bandits. He expressed optimism that the NCCSALW centre would help eradicate illicit arms in the region and the country.
