Proliferation of small arms and light weapon in Nigeria: Conspiracy or failure of governance?

Abstract

Factors predicting proliferation of small arms and light weapon could be seen in country’s fragile internal security, unregulated mining sites, preponderances of ungoverned space, presence of vast porous border with war impacted Sahelian countries, archaic firearms legal provisions, and presence of terror cell groups. Therefore the proliferation of small arms and light weapon is of supply meets demand. It was against this background that this study employed Failed State Theory to investigate proliferation of small arms and light weapon in Nigeria as an indicator of failure of governance or as a conspiracy? This study deconstructed failure of governance into outdated firearm legal provision and fragile internal security management. This study employs thematic research design; by reviewing publicly available archive documents. The study relies solely on secondary data. The research is conducted by examining literature concerning proliferation of small arms and light weapon. Findings from this study showed that the lack of political will by government to review the outdated 1959 Firearm Ordinance negatively influences and encourages proliferations of small arms and light weapon. Finding also revealed that inability to have a stable internal security continually magnetizes arms proliferation into the country. This study therefore recommends that Nigeria should overhaul her outdated 1959 Firearm ordinance and align with regional and international convention by establishing a functional agency to tackle arms proliferation. This study also recommends that the federal government should engage more of good governance devoid of corruption than militarisation of her internal security management.