National Commission against Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill

National Commission against Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill Policy Overview

What Is This Policy?

A bill to establish a dedicated National Commission to coordinate and drive Nigeria's response to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), addressing a major driver of insecurity, terrorism, and communal violence.

Who Does It Target?

Security agencies: Police, Army, DSS, Customs, Immigration Armed non-state actors and criminal networks Border communities and internally displaced populations Civil society organisations working on peace and security

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Establish a unified national authority to coordinate all SALW control activities Reduce the estimated 6 million+ illicit small arms in circulation in Nigeria Strengthen border controls to prevent arms trafficking Implement ECOWAS and UN arms control commitments in domestic law

Key Features

Current Status

Funding: Federal Government security budget; ECOWAS Trust Fund for Small Arms; UN donor support

How to Access

Security information and weapons surrender through police stations, army units, or the commission upon establishment. Requirements: Voluntary surrender programmes open to all holders of illicit weapons Anonymous tip-off mechanism for reporting illegal arms caches Community-based reporting channels established through local government Application method: Police stations nationwide; upon establishment, commission hotline and state offices

Important Terms

Illegal possession of SALW carries minimum 10-year imprisonment Voluntary surrender within amnesty period attracts immunity from prosecution Arms trafficking across borders is a capital offence under existing law

Impact & Metrics

An estimated 6 million illegal small arms circulate in Nigeria, contributing to 80%+ of violent fatalities; the commission targets a 30% reduction in illicit arms within 5 years.

Official Resources

Website: www.nnpc.gov.ng (interim) | www.police.gov.ng Contact: Nigeria Police Force — [email protected] | NSA Office — [email protected] Federal Republic of Nigeria — Policy Summary Document | March 2026

Legal Framework

The National Commission against Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons Bill, when enacted, would operate under the Firearms Act, the National Security Agencies Act, and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. It aligns with the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons 2006, the UN Programme of Action on SALW, the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) on illegal small arms.