The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday pushed closer to the repeal and amendment of a 30-year-old Act and replace it with a new Act that will include stiffer penalties for the illegal possession of firearms.
The Senate’s move came after a bill seeking to amend the Principal Act sponsored by Senator Uba Sani( APC, Kaduna Central) scaled 2nd reading on the floor.
In his lead debate, Sani said the major objective of the proposed Act is to serve as a deterrent to indiscriminate weapons carrying and strengthen current efforts by government to control the influx of firearms.
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He also said the bill makes provision for the destruction of firearms brought into the country illegally, arguing further that the amendment will help Nigeria address its current security challenges.
According to the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa(UNREC), the profliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in Nigeria has reached an alarming level.
There are fears that out of the estimated 500 million weapons that may be in circulation in West Africa, 350 million, representing 70% of them are in Nigeria.
The bill was first read on the floor of the Senate on 25th November, 2020 but its history dates back to the 8th National Assembly when it was passed but not given assent to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Legal and Human Rights for further legislative action.
(Editor – Oloyede Oworu)
