UN Arms Trade Treaty: Jonathan Pledges Nigeria’s Commitment

President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged
Nigeria's commitment to the implementation of
United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) of
April 2013.
Jonathan made the promise at a three-day
National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on
Illicit Arms and Light Weapons which opened in
Abuja.
Represented by Minister of Interior Abba Moro,
Jonathan said the ATT was in the best interest of
Africa.
The President urged countries that had yet to
implement the ATT in Africa to do so in order to
expedite its ratification to enable it to come into
force.
Mr Kadre Ouedraogo, the President of ECOWAS
Commission, said the adoption of the ATT was
one of the greatest achievements since the
creation of the UN.
Represented by Mrs Khadi Saccoh, ECOWAS
Commissioner for Finance, Ouedraogo
congratulated Nigeria for being the first
member to ratify the treaty followed by Mali.
Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, Chairman of the
Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light
Weapons (SALW), said the committee was
focused on mopping up excess weapons in
Nigeria.
Other areas of focus are preventing entry of
SALW, improving stockpile management,
regulating brokers, monitoring local
manufacturers and reviewing existing
legislations, among others.
Illicit proliferation of small arms and light
weapons had been blamed on the 12 major
conflicts in Africa between 2000 and 2009.
The arms were not mopped up during
subsequent demobilisation, disarmament and
rehabilitation.