The National Park Service (NPS) and the National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) have put plans in motion to collaborate on curbing the proliferation of illicit arms and associated crimes to strengthen national security, especially around Nigeria’s forests.
This development came to the fore today (13/03/2025) when the Director General of the centre, DIG Johnson Kokumo (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to the Conservator General, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
The Conservator General, while congratulating DIG Johnson (Rtd) on his appointment and the Presidential assent to the bill establishing the centre, expressed the Service’s total readiness to collaborate with the centre in areas of mutual benefit, including intelligence sharing and capacity building.
According to DIG Johnson Kokumo (Rtd), the NCCSALW, a department in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), was established to curb the proliferation of illicit arms and light weapons, thereby addressing the alarming security challenges facing the country.
He added that the National Park Service is strategic in fighting illicit arms, as criminals often hide in forests to perpetrate their crimes, hence the need for collaboration between the two agencies.
While thanking the Conservator General for the warm reception, the Director General stated that all areas of collaboration would receive immediate attention.