ECOWAS warns against diversion of legally acquired arms in West Africa

ECOWAS is warning West African governments not to overlook a less visible threat in the region’s arms problem: weapons that leave legally authorized stockpiles and enter illicit circulation.

Abayomi Adeomi, acting head of the ECOWAS Small Arms Division, said the region’s focus often falls on arms trafficked across borders. But legally acquired weapons can also be diverted, stolen or lost if national stockpiles are poorly managed. He spoke during a five-day training session in Port Harcourt on physical security, stockpile management and property management for national security.

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While most attention is often paid to weapons trafficked across borders, we must equally remain vigilant about the diversion of weapons from legally authorized stockpiles of Member States. Comprehensive and effective stockpile management is therefore not just a mere technical administrative function.

“While most attention is often paid to weapons trafficked across borders, we must equally remain vigilant about the diversion of weapons from legally authorized stockpiles of Member States. Comprehensive and effective stockpile management is therefore not just a mere technical administrative function,” Adeomi said.

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The core element of national security conflict prevention, peace building, accountable security sector governance, accurate inventory displays, discipline across control of the national stockpiles held by Member States, routine inspections, safe handling procedures and competent trained personnel, and timely destruction of offspring and surplus weapons together form a vital barrier against diversion, against theft, against loss and against accidental unexpected explosions.

He said accurate inventories, disciplined controls, regular inspections, safe handling procedures, trained personnel and the timely destruction of surplus weapons form a barrier against diversion, theft, loss and accidental explosions. He also described the cooperation between ECOWAS and the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies as a way to turn the regional body’s commitments into practical capacity building.

Nigeria’s National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons said it had destroyed more than 17,000 unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons, as well as more than 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunition, since its creation in 2021. The figures were presented at the training, which ECOWAS organized with the Bonn International Centre and hosted with support from the Nigerian and Rivers State governments.

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Since its inception, the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapon has destroyed over 17,000 illicit, unserviceable, obsolete and decommissioned weapons as well as over 20,000 rounds of illicit ammunitions.