The National Assembly(NASS) has proposed a five-year prison sentence or a fine of N5 million for those convicted of illegal possession of firearms. If an individual engages in violence with an unlicensed firearm under the Bill to Establish the National Center for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Arms in Nigeria and Related Matters.
The Senate and House formed a committee of congress to reconcile differences in the documents passed by both houses.
Adeogun Adejoro, Co-Chairman of the conference committee from the House submitted a report on the bill in the previous week. the bill was then considered and adopted on Wednesday.
In the report, the committee, in Clause 31, Part 9 of the bill, recommended punishments for illegal possession. Furthermore, they proposed punishments for the illegal use of firearms.
Clause 31 read-
“Offences and penalties: (1) Any person in possession of firearms or ammunition without a licence shall on conviction be liable to five years imprisonment or a fine of not less than N5,000,000.00 or both where the person has no previous criminal record.
“(2) Any person with previous criminal records found in possession of firearms without a licence shall on conviction be liable to five years imprisonment without fine.
“(3) Where a person commits an act of violence with a firearm that is not licenced such person shall on conviction be liable to six years imprisonment.”
The National Centre for the Coordination and Control of the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons will get legal backing when the bill is signed into law. It is currently domiciled with the Office of the National Security Adviser,
Clause 6 Part 3 of the bill, listed the functions and powers of the commission. They include implementing strategies, plans, and policies for the eradication of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
It also includes supervising the implementation of the strategies, plans, and policies for the same reason. They will however be backed by law enforcement agencies and other relevant ministries, departments, and agencies in Nigeria.
Furthermore, they can receive reports of activities on the registration and licensing of firearms and ammunition from the Nigeria Police Force. This will be for the sole purpose of updating the national database.
Other functions and powers of the commission are-
“(e) organising programmes of action to prevent, control, combat, and eradicate the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons, and coordinating the design and implementation of an effective public education and awareness campaign relative to small arms and light weapons”.
The bill also proposed that the ECOWAS, the AU, and the UN grant certain exemptions to member states. The exemption will be for weapons of Categories 1, 2 and 3 of the ECOWAS Protocol on SALW. This will enable them to meet legitimate national defence and security needs. As well as participate in peacekeeping or other operations. This of course will be in agreement with the decisions of the UN, AU, and ECOWAS. The participation will also be extended to other regional or sub-regional body of which it is a member.
On management and security of stockpiles, the bill proposes that the commission, among others, shall take the necessary measures to ensure safe and effective management. As well as ensure the storage and security of national stocks of small arms and light weapons.
cc: Punch Ng
