The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has announced that the Federal Government is investigating the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) as a key route for arms trafficking into Nigeria. Ribadu made this disclosure during a two-day seminar on "Climate Change and the Changing Dynamics of Arms Proliferation and Insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea," held in Abuja on Tuesday. The event was organized by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in collaboration with the Global Network for Human Development.
Represented by the Director of External Affairs from the Office of the NSA, Ibrahim Babani, Ribadu highlighted the GoG's strategic importance due to its abundant natural resources, including an estimated 24 billion barrels of crude oil reserves. However, the region's lucrative economic activities have also attracted organized crime syndicates involved in drug trafficking, piracy, oil theft, and the smuggling of small arms and light weapons (SALW).
"Though there have been reports on the proliferation of SALW through the Maritime Sector, the government is interested in further interrogation of the GoG as a major route for arms trafficking," Ribadu stated. He emphasized the need to explore the links between climate change, armed violence, and arms trafficking in the region.
Retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, Director-General of NCCSALW, echoed these concerns, noting that climate change has exacerbated instability and conflict in the Gulf of Guinea, fueling the demand for illicit arms. The seminar aims to address these issues by strengthening national and regional frameworks for arms control and conflict mitigation.
Experts at the event, including guest lecturer Dr. Dickson Orji, urged the government to focus more on securing the maritime domain to curb the influx of illicit arms. Orji recommended improved ship inspections and certifications, as well as continuous advocacy, empowerment of maritime security agencies, and synergy between security agencies operating in the sector.
The seminar marks a key step in the Nigerian government's efforts to tackle the growing challenges posed by arms proliferation and insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
