Nigeria signs arms treaty to check terrorism, piracy

[Mirror]

As part of measures to check the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the Federal Government has signed and ratified the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT. The development makes Nigeria the first African country to sign the treaty.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, signed the treaty on behalf of the Federal Government in New York, United States.

The statement reads in part: "Today, Nigeria becomes the first African country to sign and ratify the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT. "This landmark event represents our deep commitment to a treaty which establishes transfer of conventional arms.

"We remain resolute and unyielding in our efforts at uphold the principle of ATT and, in particular, ensuring that small arms and light weapons are appropriately transferred and access denied to terrorist groups, pirates, bandits and the like," the statement said.

It added that: "Since the adoption of ATT, the government of Nigeria has continued to partner with like-minded states on the future implementation of the treaty."

Under the ATT, specific provision is made for the regulation of export of "ammunition and munitions capable of being fired, launched or delivered by the conventional arms covered under its scope..."

National Mirror