Nigeria has called for end to the importation of illicit, small and light weapons into West Africa by “corporate warlords” from developed nations, which fuel unrest.
Lawrence Olefumi Obisakin, a senior director in Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told a United Nations General Assembly committee responsible for disarmament and international security that it was time the international community tackled the proliferation of illicit arms.
“We expect no less of a treaty which provides the legal basis for international trade in conventional weapons,” he said.
“The government of Nigeria is deeply concerned at the magnitude of human casualty and unbearable suffering, especially among children, women and the aged as a result of the illicit trade, proliferation, use and misuse of small arms and light weapons in Africa.”
He said small arms and light weapons were the “weapons of mass destruction” in West Africa, in view of the devastation witnessed from their misuse and the destabilising effects they had on the region’s socio-economic development, including the Niger Delta.
Nigeria had spent more than $10 billion in the last two decades to stem the tide of recurrent conflicts caused by the circulation of an estimated eight million small arms, he said.
“We urge UN member states to urgently redouble efforts to articulate the role of those weapons regarding security needs of states, peoples and organizations,” Obisakin added.
According to reports, Nigeria has taken measures to locate and remove landmines, but has not benefited from any form of technical or financial assistance from the UN.
The world body named Nigeria as president of the Committee’s Review Conference next year August
The UN first committee meeting on the issue of small and light weapons was held at the Nigeria House in New York on Wednesday.