The Coordinator, National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Major General Abba Mohammed Dikko has described Corps Members as positive agents of sensitization, especially on government programmes.
He said they have value-added potentials that can be used for national development.
Dikko stated this today when he led other members of the centre on a courtesy visit to the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
He bemoaned the rate of acquisition of illicit firearms, especially among the youths in the country.
He stated that the centre was established to mainstream the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, adding that the Centre has come to partner NYSC for grassroot sensitization to achieve its mandate.
The Coordinator said NYSC is a veritable tool for which the centre can extend its advocacy in order to reach all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
General Dikko emphasized that there was a need to stop the illicit acquisition and usage of firearms so that there can be peace.
“Once there is peace, there will be development.
“The Corps Members have a very powerful tool of communicating with people. Once they approach any community in their uniforms and in their organised manner people listen to them.
“We will see how they can carry this message along and talk to their target audience who are Members of their immediate communities.
“And I think its a very good advocacy platform,” he said.
He stated further that the centre have the mandate of leading a stakeholder process involving government ministries, departments and agencies including civil society groups in implementing all plans of action on the control of illegal use of firearms.
NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah in his response thanked the leadership of the centre for finding NYSC worthy of the collaboration.
He added that as the country prepare for the 2023 general elections, there is the need to curb the illegal use of firearms especially in the political space.
He said NYSC have national coverage in 774 Local Government Areas which would make the message of sensitization applicable to the grassroots.
“We are ready for the synergy and we would be glad if some of your staff can sensitize Corps Members when they are in the Orientation Camps”, he said.
General Fadah also promised that Corps Members would continue to serve as good ambassadors of the NYSC in their respective host communities.
