Nigeria Trains New Weapons Experts to Prevent Diversion and Strengthen Security

Retired DIG Johnson Kokumo, Director‑General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), announced that Nigeria is fortifying its security framework by training a new group of specialists who will prevent the theft, diversion and misuse of weapons and ammunition.

During the graduation ceremony for the second cohort of the Capacity Development Programme on Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM), Kokumo noted that the training had provided personnel from 15 arms‑bearing security agencies with essential skills to protect national security assets and diminish organisational vulnerabilities.

He called the programme a significant milestone, pointing out that 45 participants finished the latest session, raising the cumulative total trained under the initiative to 90.

In the current complex and evolving security environment, the importance of effective physical security and stockpile management cannot be overstated.

He added that worldwide incidents of theft, diversion, loss of authorised assets, accidental explosions and poor stockpile practices continue to threaten national security, public safety and socio‑economic development.

Kokumo highlighted that the graduates had gained competencies in risk assessment, inventory control, accountability procedures, storage safety, surveillance systems, emergency response, and stockpile destruction techniques, all based on internationally accepted standards and best