NSA, Ribadu, pinpoints the causes of insecurity in Nigeria

National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has cited the proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons as a major cause of insecurity and communal violence in Nigeria.

Ribadu stated this at a workshop reviewing lessons learned from the 2016 Nigerian National Baseline Survey on Prohibited Small Arms and Light Weapons held in Abuja.

The NSA said illegal weapons help sustain violent crime in various regions of the country, including banditry in the North-West region, conflicts between farmers and herders in the North-Central region, and terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.

“The spread of illegal small arms and light weapons is not an abstract policy issue; it represents a deadly threat to the safety of our people,” Ribadu said. “Behind every statistic about banned weapons is a community that has lost its peace, a family that has lost a loved one, or a livelihood that has been destroyed.”

According to Ribadu, Nigeria needs reliable and up-to-date data to effectively address the issue rather than relying on estimates.

He said the 2016 survey provided useful information about the scale and nature of illegal arms circulation and helped shape government policy, including the creation of the National Center for Small Arms and Light Weapons Control (NCCSALW) and the development of a National Action Plan.

But he said the country must first review existing surveys before conducting new surveys.

“Before we launch the next National Baseline Survey, we must conduct an honest review. What worked? What didn’t? And what should be done differently this time?” he asked.