Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, advocated for stiffer penalties for anyone caught in possession of firearm not legally procured in Nigeria.

According to him, the issue of insecurity across parts of the country would have been nipped but for the continued illegal proliferation of firearms in the country.

Lawan made this known in his concluding remarks after the Senate considered a bill seeking to amend the Firearms Act, 2004.

He said, “The security situation would have been far better, if we were able to control the proliferation of firearms in the country.

“This bill, like the sponsor mentioned, was passed in the 8th Senate. Now that we have brought it back, when it will be referred to the Committee – Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters – they should engage with the executive arm of government to see where the issue is, if that has not been done by the sponsor of the bill.

“But, I believe that there is no compromise for stiffer penalties for anyone caught with an illegal arm.”

Continuing, Lawan said, “The security situation can still be reversed, once we continue to remain focused and committed. And, for us in the a National Assembly, it has been a very difficult time, probably the most difficult time, because our people face this daily security challenges, and, the question is always, what are you people doing?

“Unfortunately, the Legislature is limited in what it can do. It cannot implement, but it can talk about it, debate and insist on it.

“I believe that this Executive is ready to do something to improve the security situation. Now that we are seeing a different or an improved approach, maybe the end to the insecurity in the country is at sight.”

The bill, The Firearms Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, was sponsored by Senator Uba Sani representing All Progressives Congress from Kaduna Central.

Nigeria had in August 2019 closed its land borders to curtail illegal importation of drugs, small arms, and agricultural products into the country from neighbouring West African nations. The borders were later reopened in December 2020.

There has been controversy over the activities of killer AK-47-wielding herdsmen terrorising parts of the country especially the South-West region.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had said it was illegal for the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to license the South-West Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun, to bear arms.

He had argued that if a private citizen could apply for a licence to bear arms for self-defence, the Amotekun Corps were also entitled to the same benefit.

The Punch