Through unified action and the frameworks established by the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and with requisite support and cooperation from partners, we are empowered to move forward with strengthened resolve and coordinated strategies.
Director General, National Centre For the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Retired DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo stated this while declaring close the ECOWAS coordination meeting of national commissions on small arms in Abuja.
Retired DIG Kokumo in his closing remarks said this meeting has further reaffirmed that while these challenges are formidable, no single nation can and must face them alone.
"You will all agree with me that our meetings here over the past three days have been both impactful and enlightening. Together, we have engaged in robust discussions, shared and learnt new ideas, lessons and international best practices and critically examined our national approaches to implementing the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
He said these deliberations represents the strength of regional cooperation and our common resolve to protect our citizens and promote peace within our individual nation states and the entire ECOWAS region.
"Although this is my first ECOWAS Coordination meeting since assuming duty as the Director General of the Nigerian National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in April this year, a meeting which coincidentally I have had the honour of chairing, I must say I am proud of the solid steps we have taken and I am confident they will enhance our individual and collective capabilities to counter these persistent challenges we face more effectively.
"Throughout our sessions, we have confronted the complex challenges posed by illicit small arms and light weapons proliferation, the threats from improvised explosive devices and the unregulated production of craft weapons.
We have also listened to succinct and thought provoking presentations from our religious leaders, civil society organisations and ofcoure not forgetting our erudite and knowledgeable team of experts and partners.