Recently, it has been series of passage of bills by both Chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 

Yesterday attention was shifted to the Lower House when members of the House of Representatives debated on the issue of insecurity in the country and resolved that the Executive should not withdraw gun license from owners as it poses a threat of worsening the insecurity situation in the country.

 

The motion was adopted under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, titled: “Motion on the Need for Mr. President to Rescind the Executive Order to Remove, Revoke and Banish all Firearms Certificate and Licenses Throughout the Country,” at plenary session.

 

They urged the President to sign into law the bill on the establishment of the (National) Commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

 

The bill was sponsored by the member representatives Bende federal constituency of Abia State, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje.

She buttressed that the motion is keen following reports in the media that the President recently signed an executive order compelling gun owners to tender their licensed weapons to the appropriate authorities with the aim of monitoring the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the country.

 

The law makers argued that withdrawing licenses from owners will further expose law abiding citizens to danger and targets of ‘mindless criminals and bandits’.

 

She added, “The House notes with concern the rising spate of insecurity in our country, and worried that insecurity which was hitherto confined to the North-East, the North-Central states has spread rapidly to the North-Western states and all other parts of the country.

 

“The House is further worried that there is an increased number of deaths resulting from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes, as it notes that in response to the local and international outcry and concern for Nigeria security situation, Mr. President signed an executive order to remove, revoke and banish all certificates and licenses throughout the federation.

 

Edwards Pwajok from Plateau State added that withdrawing licensed guns from owners will them vulnerable to criminals.

 

He said, “Government should not expose Nigerians to all forms of attack because criminals will not go for license because that will expose them. I think he (President Buhari) should rescind that order and do everything possible to mop up illegal guns”.

 

Chika Adamu further explained that unlicensed gun owners are the ones perpetrating crimes.

 

He said, “There is no empirical study to prove that. The danger is that it will make all of us very vulnerable to attacks. We have communities that people with licensed guns provide security to their communities, for instance, engaging vigilante services and that to some extent, put fear in the minds of those hoodlums and that also secures the environment”.

 

The House urged the President to “sign into law the bill on the establishment of the (National) Commission against the proliferation of small fire arms and light weapons which the inflow of illegal weapons into the country.