NCCSALW transport collaboration in Calabar targets illicit firearms, urging drivers and unions to safeguard communities and prevent illegal arms movement

Calabar, Nigeria – The South-South Zonal Office of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has intensified efforts to curb the spread of illicit firearms by engaging transport unions in Calabar, officials said on Wednesday.

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The initiative seeks to prevent illegal arms from being conveyed through the transport system, enhancing public safety and community security.

Speaking at the sensitisation session, South-South Zonal Coordinator Dr. Alex Inemah Ebimiebo described transport operators as “indispensable stakeholders in the fight against illegal arms movement,” highlighting the critical role of drivers and union leaders in operational cooperation.

Dr. Ebimiebo explained that the Centre, established on May 3, 2021 under Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser, with headquarters in Abuja and six zonal offices nationwide.

He warned that small arms proliferation remains a key driver of terrorism, armed robbery, and communal conflicts, stressing that only firearms obtained through authorised channels are legal in Nigeria.

Participants were educated on weapons such as AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, pistols, and locally fabricated firearms, while being cautioned against accepting suspicious luggage or inducements from passengers.

Zonal Legal Adviser Barr. Endurance Asim-Ita emphasised that vehicle owners and drivers risk prosecution if passengers are found with illegal arms, noting that ignorance of the law provides no exemption from liability.

She urged transport companies to implement strict luggage checks and internal security policies to prevent inadvertently aiding criminal activities.

Representatives of Cross Lines Company Limited, Akwa Ibom Transport Company, and the Unified Transport Union welcomed the initiative, sharing operational experiences and proposing practical measures to strengthen collaboration between transport operators, regulators, and security agencies.

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The NCCSALW said the engagement forms part of broader efforts to reduce illegal arms circulation across the South-South region and reinforce community security.