CSO appeals to lawmakers against arming citizens

“The bill seeking for Nigerians to bear arms for self-defence in the face of insecurity is an invitation to anarchy and chaos, given the volatile nature of the society,” a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Civil Coalition for Credible Election, (CSCCE), has submitted.

Its convener, Aminu Usman, at a press conference, yesterday, in Abuja, decried the illegal circulation of arms, stressing that if Nigerians are allowed, as suggested by the proposed legislation, the country would transit to doomsday.

Representative of Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, sponsored the bill, asking Nigerians to defend themselves against bandits and terrorists.

The group advised the lawmakers to reject it.

It said: “We are also quick to object to the proposed bill before the National Assembly, proposing for citizens to bear arms in self-defence.

“Without mincing words, the bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, which has passed first reading, is an invitation to anarchy and perdition, and should be rejected.

“ A survey carried out by a Swiss-based non-profit organisation in 2020, said Nigeria has an estimated 6.2 million arms, excluding explosives in hands of non-state actors, a number far more than the Nigerian military, with 586,600 guns and light weapons.
“The non-state actors and some civilians have used illegal arms to wage war against the state and legalised use of weapons, as captured in the ‘general principles’ of the bill, and it would not be in the interest of the nation.”

It appealed: “CSCCE, therefore, is calling on the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and lawmakers of the upper and lower legislative chambers to reject the bill as soon as it is due for debate.”

The CSO commended President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, for their approaches to tackling insecurity in the country.