West African Action Network on Small Arms, WAANSA, has urged vice chancellors in Nigerian universities to link up with international organisations to fashion out non-kinetic measures in addressing illegal proliferation of small arms in the higher institutions in the country.
This call was made by the 1st Regional Vice President of WAANSA, Comrade Martin Igwe, during a visit to the office of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities in Abuja recently.
Igwe, a former national secretary of Nigerian students, recalled his campaign promises prior to his emergence as WAANSA 1st regional vice president in Senegal, that they would champion the the campaign for peace in West Africa, especially focusing on the factors that cause proliferation of small arms vis avis crimes and criminality in the sub-region.
He noted that paying special attention to such factors would make sensitisation on the dangers of proliferation of small in West Africa much easier.
“It was in the course of trying to start addressing the cause of small arms proliferation that led me to start visiting our international borders as part of my advocacy engagements.
“I was in Zamfara when some students were kidnapped in the Federal University, Gashua; I have visited most of the border towns in Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto States, because I have realised that if we can strengthen our international borders we will not have much difficulties in addressing the issues of gun violence,” Igwe said.
He equally disclosed his recent visit to the chairman of the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig.-General Buba Marwa, from which he realised that more advocacy on the dangers of drug abuse would aid a lot in the fight against gun violence and other social vices.
Igwe further disclosed his invitation by the Tunisian government and other African ambassadors to Nigeria for discussion on measures to check illegal arms proliferation in the continent, where he stressed need for collaboration in the advocacy for a peaceful Nigeria, as when there is no peace in the country, sustainability of of activities of other nations in Nigeria may be difficult.
He used the opportunity to call on university authorities to key into the developmental programmes of international organisations, especially in ensuring secured environments in the higher institutions.
In response, the secretary-general of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Andrew Haruna commended WAANSA for its noble activities in Nigeria and West Africa, to ensure that crimes and criminalities are reduced to the barest minimum.
Alluding to his experiences with some the militants when he was a VC, Prof. Haruna, a former vice chancellor of Federal University, Gushua, noted that the fight against small arms proliferation could yield more fruitful results if the issue of hunger and poverty could be tackled head-on.
However, he promised to spread the WAANSA message, especially among the university authorities, as well ensuring maximum support to the advocacy to curtail gun violence in the country.
