The Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN) commenced the Inter-Agency Module for participants of Naval Warfare Course 9 on 12 August 2025. The module comprised lectures focused on strengthening inter-agency collaboration, delivered by seasoned resource persons drawn from various security agencies and stakeholders. The module culminated in the annual Inter-Agency Seminar, which was held on 14 August 2025. The theme of the Seminar was “Strengthening Security Agencies Collaboration to Counter Illicit Arms Proliferation for Enhanced National Security in Nigeria”. The Seminar, which was held at the NWCN Auditorium, brought together experts and practitioners from various security agencies and relevant stakeholders to foster collaboration and develop effective strategies to counter the flow of illicit arms and mitigate their impact on national security.
The highlight of the Seminar was the keynote lecture titled “Whole of Government/Society Approach in Combatting the Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria”. The keynote lecture was delivered by Mr. Alex Inemoh Ebimiebo, the Zonal Director National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) South-South. The lecture focused on the need for a holistic strategy towards addressing the scourge of proliferation of SALW in Nigeria. The keynote speaker emphasized in his lecture that the widespread proliferation of small arms, which avails terrorists, parties to intra-state conflict, organized criminals and warring gangs with easy access to weapons, pose a major threat across the country. He further stated that the menace of illicit small arms and light weapons threatens human welfare and dignity, distorts economic growth and development, and breeds insecurity, which has an overall impact on national security.
He underscored that arresting the scourge of proliferation of SALW requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, stressing that combating this menace could no longer be viewed as the sole responsibility of the military or the police. “Everybody is a stakeholder, so as such, we need to involve the whole society in this fight, and the NCCSALW has a lot of programmes for collaboration with our sister agencies”, the Zonal Director stated, calling for stronger synergy among relevant stakeholders in the country.
The Keynote Speaker recommended that relevant security agencies and stakeholders could foster synergy and downplay agency interest as against national interest which hampers cooperation at all levels. He also highlighted the importance of government at all levels stepping up efforts towards the fight against corruption by strengthening all the relevant institutions in the country. Furthermore, he emphasized the role of government at all levels in paying more attention to the implementation and supervision of compliance to enacted security policies and laws in the country.
In his closing remarks, the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH), the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral KC Ezete emphasized the urgent need for discussions and recommendations from the Seminar be translated into concrete actions. “We must ensure that the suggestions and way forward developed here are implemented effectively and that the partnerships forged are sustained”, the SGOH stated. He further urged all participants to take the knowledge and insights gained during the seminar back to their respective agencies and organizations.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Commodore CU Yahaya, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies of NWCN, who expressed gratitude to the SGOH, the Keynote Speaker, the Moderator, Discussants and all participants for their invaluable contributions to the success of the Seminar.
