Abuja, Nigeria, July 25, 2025 – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has revealed that Nigeria accounts for a staggering 40 percent of the estimated 500 million illegal small arms and light weapons circulating within the West African sub-region.
General Musa made this disclosure during a high-level strategic dialogue on national security held in Abuja, where he raised concerns over the growing proliferation of illicit weapons and its direct link to escalating insecurity across Nigeria.
According to the Defence Chief, the unchecked spread of these arms has continued to fuel terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, threatening national cohesion and undermining government efforts to stabilize affected regions. He stressed that urgent and coordinated action was required to stem the tide of arms trafficking within and across Nigeria’s borders.
“The proliferation of small arms and light weapons is one of the greatest security threats we face today. Nigeria, unfortunately, harbours about 40 percent of these illegal weapons in West Africa. This not only endangers lives but severely hampers the efforts of our security forces,” General Musa stated.
He emphasized the need for tighter border controls, improved intelligence sharing, and sustained regional collaboration to effectively disrupt arms smuggling networks. The CDS also called for stronger legislative backing and public cooperation in identifying and neutralizing sources of illegal arms within local communities.
In response, security experts at the forum urged the government to invest more in surveillance technology, support disarmament programmes, and empower law enforcement agencies with the tools needed to confront arms dealers and their sponsors.
The revelation adds to growing national concerns over the impact of arms trafficking on Nigeria’s internal security, particularly in regions grappling with insurgency and organized crime. The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national integrity while appealing to citizens to support the military in its quest to rid the country of illegal weapons.
