?Senator Ned Nwoko has intensified his advocacy for the passage of his self-defense bill, asserting that permitting responsible, law-abiding citizens to own firearms under strict regulatory supervision is vital to addressing Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.
Describing the country's current security situation as deeply distressing, the lawmaker clarified that his proposed legislation does not seek an indiscriminate arming of the public.
Instead, it introduces a rigorous screening framework under which qualified individuals can legally possess weapons to protect their families, noting that while criminals freely operate with illegal arms, innocent citizens are left entirely defenseless.
?Under the stringent guidelines outlined in the bill, prospective firearm owners would be mandated to undergo certified weapons training and obtain a medical certification verifying mental fitness.
Furthermore, applicants must secure formal recommendations from their traditional rulers or local government chairmen, alongside comprehensive security clearances from both the state Commissioner of Police and the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Nwoko argued that trained, armed civilians could significantly minimize casualties during targeted attacks on schools and vulnerable communities before conventional security agencies arrive.
?In tandem with the self-defense bill, the senator highlighted a second legislative proposal aimed at establishing licensed private military contractors within Nigeria. This initiative seeks to organize retired military personnel, former security operatives, and trained experts into highly regulated private security outfits.
Drawing parallels to national security frameworks in countries like South Africa, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq, Nwoko maintained that these contractors would effectively complement the overstretched national security apparatus.
?The lawmaker emphasized that the private military contractor bill serves a dual purpose: it maximizes the state's massive investment in the training of its veterans while simultaneously curbing the risk of retired personnel being recruited into criminal syndicates or illegal arms trafficking.
Senator Nwoko called on the public and his legislative colleagues to back both bills, framing them as pragmatic, community-level solutions that empower citizens to defend themselves while actively supporting conventional law enforcement agencies.
