By ikenyim Eucharia
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, Monday , received the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapon, NCCSALW.
Expressing concern on the issue of security, at his Office, Centenary City, Abakaliki , the governor said the state has zero tolerance for Arms trade in line with the people’s Charter of needs agenda and assured that his administration would continue to prioritize and promote policies that will strengthen unity and foster growth in the State.
Nwifuru who described peace and stability as the bedrock of development in any society, maintained that no meaning ful development can take place where there is conflict and disunity .
” Peace and security as far as I’m concerned is the very path that leads to sustainable development in any country in the world, nothing else,
Where there is no peace
There is no development ” he added.
He appreciated the agency for their contributions to improve peace and tranquility of the nation and promise to complement efforts of peace institutions and other partners to consolidate peace in the Southeast region.
“I promise to complement your efforts and work with you to achieve peace in the Southeast”.
The Southeast Director of National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapon, NCCSALW, Rtd, Navy Captain Chris Onusiem, explained that the agency was signed into law, last year, June 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the responsibility to ensure armed free society.
According to him, the agency works with other security agencies and government to ensure that dangerous weapons do not get into the wrong hands.
He enumerated some of the objectives of the agency as to institutionalised the Small Arms and Light Weapons Control across all levels of Nigerian politics by coordinating and implementing national efforts for the Control and monitoring and eradication of the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons . To mainstream illegal small arms and light weapon eradication efforts in all levels of Nigerian society as well as to domesticate the fight against illicit arms in other to engander a whole society approach to these fight among others.
He commended the state for being one of the most peaceful states in the country, assured that the center would continue to partner with the state government to sustain and maintain secured environment.