Katsina State Governor and the Chairman Northwest Governors Forum, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to regional security cooperation, describing the forthcoming Northwest Regional Workshop on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons as “a timely and strategic effort to confront one of the region’s most pressing security challenges.”
The Governor made this statement on Wednesday when he received a high-level delegation led by the Director-General of the Northwest Governors Forum Secretariat, Maryam Musa Yahaya, at Katsina House in Abuja.
The delegation included the Director-General of the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd), along with senior officials of the Centre.
According to the NWGF Secretariat, the visit was part of preparatory activities for the Northwest Regional Workshop on Reducing the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, jointly organized by the Northwest Governors Forum, NCCSALW, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The workshop, scheduled for October 23–24, 2025, at the State House, Abuja, will bring together Governors of the seven Northwest states, security chiefs, policy experts, and development partners under the theme: “Strengthening Regional Action to Curb Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation in Northwest Nigeria.”
Governor Radda emphasized that the meeting with the NCCSALW leadership marked another step in the region’s collective resolve to tackle insecurity at its roots.
“This meeting is not just another official engagement. It is a call to action. The proliferation of small arms and light weapons continues to undermine peace and development across our communities. It fuels banditry, disrupts trade, and prevents our children from going to school,” the Governor stated.
He stressed that addressing the menace of arms proliferation is essential for achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in the Northwest.
“We cannot build thriving communities or attract meaningful investments in an environment where illegal weapons circulate freely. This workshop is therefore not only timely but vital to the survival and progress of our region,” Governor Radda added.
The Governor commended the Office of the National Security Adviser and NCCSALW for their proactive collaboration with the Northwest Governors Forum and urged that outcomes from the forthcoming workshop be translated into measurable actions that strengthen community safety, intelligence sharing, and regional coordination.
“We must move beyond policy discussions to real implementation steps that tighten control mechanisms, enhance intelligence networks, and rebuild public confidence in our ability to protect lives and property,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (Rtd), Director-General of NCCSALW, commended the Northwest Governors Forum for its foresight and leadership, describing the planned workshop as “a model for regional synergy and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against illegal arms proliferation.”
He noted that the uncontrolled circulation of small arms remains one of the most complex threats to Nigeria’s internal security but expressed optimism that stronger regional collaboration can achieve tangible progress.
“Through this partnership with the Northwest Governors Forum, we are laying a solid foundation for a coordinated and effective national response,” Kokumo stated.
He reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to working closely with the NWGF, security agencies, and international partners to ensure that resolutions from the workshop are effectively implemented, promoting long-term peace, stability, and socio-economic recovery across the region.
The meeting concluded with agreements on key milestones for stakeholder engagement, coordination frameworks, and post-workshop follow-up mechanisms designed to ensure that outcomes lead to concrete, actionable results.
The Northwest Governors Forum Secretariat reiterated its commitment to advancing regional peace and security in line with the Forum’s broader agenda of sustainable development and social stability.
Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State
8th October, 2025
