Nigeria’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has called on international partners to continue supporting efforts to tackle the proliferation of illicit weapons.

He stated this when he presented Africa’s position on the growing threat of illicit small arms and light weapons at the 9th Biennial Meeting of States convened by the United Nations.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Programme of Action aimed at preventing, combating, and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as the International Tracing Instrument.

It also examined key challenges and opportunities in implementing both frameworks at the national, regional, and global levels.

Speaking on behalf of the African Group, Senator Ibrahim noted that 25 years after the adoption of the Programme of Action and 21 years after the International Tracing Instrument, the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons continues to fuel armed violence across the world.

Weapons Of Mass Destruction 

He described the situation in Africa as particularly alarming, stating that small arms and light weapons have become the continent’s true weapons of mass destruction,driving terrorism, transnational organised crime, prolonged conflicts, humanitarian crises, and the loss of countless lives.

According to the Nigerian envoy, the African Group views the meeting as an opportunity to translate longstanding commitments into measurable outcomes.

He explained that Africa’s participation was guided by the Common African Position, which outlines the continent’s priorities at the national, regional, and international levels.

Ibrahim reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference, self-defence, and the peaceful settlement of disputes as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

The Nigerian diplomat further highlighted four key priorities of the African Group, stressing that national implementation efforts must produce tangible results.

He noted that African countries had strengthened legal and regulatory frameworks governing the entire life cycle of small arms and light weapons, including their manufacture, marking, stockpile management, and disposal.

He further stated that African nations have invested in national coordinating bodies, designated points of contact, and national action plans to tackle the proliferation of illicit weapons.

Africa’s Agenda

He called on international partners to continue supporting these efforts while respecting national ownership and ensuring that assistance remains voluntary and demand-driven.

On the issue of diversion, the envoy said preventing weapons from falling into the wrong hands remained central to Africa’s agenda.

He advocated stronger physical security and stockpile management measures in peacetime, conflict, and post-conflict situations, as well as improved end-user controls, monitoring systems, investigations, and information-sharing mechanisms.

He also urged the international community to criminalize the conversion of deactivated, blank-firing, and non-lethal firearms into fully functional weapons.

The African Group, he said, continues to call for a prohibition on the transfer of small arms and light weapons to unauthorized non-state actors, including criminal and terrorist organisations engaged in violent activities.

Addressing emerging technologies, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim emphasised that technology should help close, rather than widen, the gaps that enable illicit trafficking and proliferation.

He called for the regulation of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to prevent their misuse in facilitating the spread of illegal weapons.

Ibrahim also reaffirmed the African Group’s commitment to constructive engagement and practical action in addressing the devastating impact of illicit small arms and light weapons, expressing hope that the meeting would deliver meaningful outcomes that strengthen international peace, security, and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, the senator has been elected as the Chairman of Budget and the Administration of the UN.

Ibrahim, who described the election as an honour, thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support.

“It is indeed an honour for me to be elected as the Chairman of Budget and the Administration of the United Nations today, June 2, 2026.

“Let me thank the good people of Nigeria for this historic achievement. I assured my colleagues of 193 member states that at this challenging time in history, it is my responsibility to provide a strategy in a chaotic situation,” he said in a personally signed statement.