IN this series, I shall favour my readers with the paper I delivered at the 2019 Professional Managers’ Forum/Award Night of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Port-Harcourt Chapter on Friday, 22nd November, 2019 at Atrium Event Centre, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation and Development Issues in the Niger-Delta: The Managers’ Perspective.
1. INTRODUCTION
It is my pleasure to be here to discuss a very important issue that is presently shaking the foundation and tearing the fabric of our great country, Nigeria.
The title of today’s discussion has been slightly adjusted to read, “Small Arms and Light Weapons Proliferation and Development Issues in the Niger- Delta, The Managers’ Perspective”; this mild change will enable us to interact more robustly, look at the issue more holistically and proffer generic recommendations that will not only be applicable to the Niger-Delta region but to the entire country.
You will all agree with me that one of the crucial security omens in Nigeria is the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Despite the loss of lives and properties from this menace, it has remained unabated and is even flourishing. Many of us have resigned to fate and expect God Himself to descend to cure the disease. One of our top Military gurus recently called on Nigerians to pray to God to quench the security crisis in the North East, ostensibly linked to arms proliferation and misuse. Seriously, I can’t fault a spiritual solution to a lingering and seemingly intractable security menace, the more perspectives we bring to bear on our challenges the better.
Fellow Professional managers, small and light arms proliferation can be looked at and solved from different perspectives: military, religious, political, economic, social, technological, environmental, family, traditional, international, local, etc. Since this is a gathering of professional managers, we are going to X-ray the topic with the eyes and brain of a manager. I believe by the time all of us imbibe and apply the recommendations of this lecture, the Niger-Delta in particular and Nigeria in general will be safer, better and more secure. Ladies and Gentlemen, you are most welcome to this Management Clinic.
2. DEFINITION OF TERMS
According to the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Small Arms include: revolvers and self-loading pistols; rifles and carbines; sub-machine guns; assault rifles; light machine-guns, heavy machine-guns; portable anti-tank guns; recoilless rifles; portable launchers of anti-tank guns, and rocket systems, anti-aircraft missiles systems; and mortars of calibres less than 100mm.
For the purpose of this lecture, small arms also include knives, clubs, stones, small calibre guns, fire, bottles, and other objects that can be used to inflict injury, kill or damage properties, environment, etc.
Light Weapons are weapons designed for use by two or three persons serving as a crew, although some may be carried and used by a single person. They include heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of antitank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of a calibre of less than 100 mm (John, M. M. and Julius L. N.2017).
Small arms and light weapons proliferation simply means, small arms and light weapons trade and/or market. As a professional manager, and for the purpose of this lecture, I will like to define small arms and light weapons proliferation as an illegal/illicit possession of small arms and light weapons (in the wrong hands, at the wrong time, in the wrong place, for the wrong purpose, in the wrong quantity) that constitutes a danger to people and other aspects of the environment. Any situation with any of these ‘5 wrongs’ constitutes small arms and light weapons proliferation.
To understand arms and small weapons proliferation, we should consider the following pertinent questions begging for answers: who are those involved in this proliferation? (Who are the sellers and buyers?), how do they get them? (Which routes are those weapons passing through to get into the country and/or the end users?) Are they produced locally? Even if locally, how are they transported from one end of the country to the other?), and why are people involved in such trade? (For what purpose/or reason?).
To be continued next week.
Sunday Ade Bello is a multi-talented and an analytically inspired management trainer, writer and examiner. He is the CEO of WorkLife Training Professionals, Lagos.
