Arms Proliferation: UK, WAANSA urge Nigeria, others on domestication of ATT

By Caleb Ayansina

The United Kingdom (UK) and the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) have called on the Federal Government and other African countries to domesticate the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) recently signed and ratified by them to help curb insecurity in the continent.

ATT is an instrument put in a place by the United Nations to regulate the use of small arms and light weapons in the society. The treaty came into force with ratification of 63 countries out of 130 countries that signed it. The treaty is meant to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons holistically by reducing the ability of the producer to produce and sell indiscriminately.

The Deputy British High Commissioner, Simon Sherclif, who made the call during a one-day workshop on ATT with focus on regulation of Arms transfer and responsibilities of State parties organized by WAANSA, in Abuja, said the British Government had been in the lead of lobbying the government, Civil Groups to know the importance of the treaty to human existence.

He said that there was a huge inflow of small arms and light weapons in the country, giving it as the reason for high rate of crimes in the society.

According to him, “We want to stand behind the government in curbing the problem. The ATT needs to be domesticated that is the next step to take, it is very important.”

imperative for all countries in the African continent to domesticate and urgently begin the implementation of the agreement.

He said; “We hope now, with the ATT, there is going to be a structure in the way weapons are coming in to our country.

“The treaty will improve peace and security; it will reduce conflict around the world that is why the implementation is very important.”

“There must be an international cooperation so that the people who know about arms deal can assist those who don’t know to acquire knowledge. So we are calling for d international assistance to make the treaty works.”

The President of WAANSA in Nigeria, Mr Dickson Orji attributed the current insecurity in the country to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria, adding that with the ATT in place sanity would soon return to the society.

But he strongly maintained that there were roles to be played by all strata of the society to ensure proper implementation of the treaty.

“We believe that international instrument like ATT could help in checkmating influx of weapons in to Nigeria. Also, the ECOWAS’ convention with makes it difficulty for any member states to import weapon without first of all informing the other members.

“My plead is that from the presidential committee to the parliament, the ministry of foreign affairs, whom we have visited already and to the civil society organisations and the media, we should fastract the process of domestication of ATT,” Orji urged.

 

Arms Proliferation: UK, WAANSA urge Nigeria, others on domestication of ATT