By Ahmed Idris
The National Security Council on Thursday set up a committee to work out modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) to a National Commission on Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Minister of Defence, Mr Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali, who disclosed this at the end of the council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, said members of the proposed commission would be drawn from all security services and the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior.
He said the commission would be headed by a retired General.
The minister said in line with the decision of the present government to increase the strength of the Armed Forces to address manpower problem, the three services have in the last two years enlisted and recruited qualified Nigerians.
He said the Ministry of Defence is also building befitting accommodation for members of the Armed Forces in the six geopolitical zones.
The minister also told journalists that the council also discussed the remote causes of the frequent crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the country, saying blockage of cattle routes and the establishment of anti-grazing laws by some states and the existence of local militias were responsible for the crises.
“Whatever crisis that happens at any time, there is remote and immediate causes. Look at this issue, what is the remote causes of this farmers crisis? Since the nation’s Independence, we know there used to be a route whereby the cattle rearers take because they are all over the nation. You go to Bayelsa, Ogun, you will see them. If those routes are blocked, what do you expect will happen?
“These people are Nigerians. Is just like one going to block shoreline, does that make sense to you? These are the remote causes of the crisis. But the immediate cause is the grazing law. These people are Nigerians and we must learn to live together with each other. Communities and other people must learn how to accept foreigners within their enclave,” he said.
