House of Reps to Buhari: Reverse Executive Order banning gun ownership

The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to reverse its executive order restraining gun ownership in the country.

Members said the order would strip citizens of their rights to life and self-defence amid growing attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other criminals, if allowed to stand.

The president had on May 22, 2019 signed into law the Executive Order revoking all firearm or shotgun certificates or licences in Nigeria. By the provisions of the Executive Order, which becomes effective June 1, 2019, nobody in the country is allowed or authorised to own or carry prohibited weapons or gun.

The House instead urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law a bill establishing a commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion, ‘Executive Order To Remove, Revoke And Banish All Firearms Certificates And Licences Throughout The Federation’, moved by Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP, Abia).

Presenting the motion, Elendu-Ukeje said: “The House notes with concern the rising spate of insecurity in our country. It is worried that the insecurity, which was hitherto confined to the northeast and the north central states, has spread rapidly to the northwestern states and all other parts of the country.

“It is further concerned that there is an increased number of deaths resulting from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes. It notes that in response to the local and international outcry and concern for Nigeria’s security situation, Mr. President signed an executive order to remove, revoke and banish all gun certificates and licences throughout the federation.

“It is concerned that this order targets illegal gun owners and their guns while there doesn’t seem to be any institutional actionable policy or plan to mop up small arms and light weapons that are at the centre of these crimes. It is convinced that the high number of illegal guns is responsible among others factors for the increase in crime.”

The lawmaker argued: “Judging from the number of motions, there is a consensus that insecurity has become a national problem and that this executive order only targets legal guns and there is none to address those with illegal guns. There are no statistics to show that the crimes perpetrated by licensed guns outweigh the number of crimes committed by unlicenced guns.”

Supporting the motion, Edward Pwajok (PDP, Plateau) warned government not to “expose Nigerians to all forms of attacks.” He said: “Criminals will not go for licences because that will expose them. I think he (Buhari) should rescind that order and do everything possible to mop up illegal guns.”

Abubakar Chika (APC, Niger) said: “The danger is that it will make all of us very vulnerable to attacks. We have communities where people with licensed guns provide security through vigilance services. That, to some extent, puts fear in the minds of hoodlums and secures the environment.”

Sunday Adepoju (APC Oyo) noted: “Majority of those who have licensed guns are well-to-do personalities. For instance, in a community where there are persons with legal guns, the moment hoodlums come close and they hear gunshots, they flee.

“Simon Arabo (PDP, Kaduna) argued: “You cannot use an executive order to override a lawfully acquired weapon. If most of the weapons are being used illegally, the security agencies should tackle that.”

But Mojeed Alabi (APC, Osun) differed. According to him, “the police have no clear criteria for issuing a gun licence in Nigeria, except you want to give them money. People take guns without any procedure visible to all of us. If the police do not have full regulations guiding ownership or acquisition of guns, then I will advise that they (guns) be withdrawn.

He added: “The procedure is wrong and because of that, the president is right to say they should withdraw them. Let them (police) come up with regulations.” (RS/THE GUARDIAN)