The Centre advised corps members to maintain neutrality and report any security threats through proper channels, including security agencies and NYSC Local Government Inspectors.

This warning was given during a sensitisation and advocacy programme held for 2,484 corps members of Batch ‘A’ Stream II at the Orientation Camp in Paiko, Niger State.

The programme, led by the Zonal Assistant Director of Support Services, Lt. Col. O.K. Olagunju, educated corps members from Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the dangers posed by the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs), as well as their responsibility in promoting peace and national security.

Lt. Col. Olagunju explained that small arms refer to weapons operated by a single individual, such as pistols, rifles and AK-47s, while light weapons are used by small groups and include machine guns and grenade launchers.

He noted that the widespread availability of illegal weapons continues to drive terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and communal clashes across the country.

According to him, the spread of SALWs is fueled by factors such as illegal cross-border trafficking, theft of arms from security operatives, local fabrication, and ongoing conflicts within and outside Nigeria.

He warned that the unchecked proliferation of illicit weapons threatens national unity, economic stability, and sustainable development, especially as young people are increasingly targeted for recruitment into violent groups.

Lt. Col. Olagunju encouraged corps members to act as peace ambassadors in their host communities by promoting harmony, engaging in public awareness campaigns, and reporting suspicious activities to security authorities.

He also revealed that the Federal Government established the NCCSALW in 2021 through a Presidential Order to strengthen arms control efforts, with legal backing later reinforced in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He added that the Centre, operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser and led by DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, is responsible for coordinating arms control policies, sensitisation campaigns, and the recovery and destruction of illegal weapons.

The programme also included an interactive session where corps members asked questions on weapon classification and proper reporting procedures.

The newly elected state chairman, Dr. John Ogar, stated that the party still has enough time to sell nomination forms, urging interested aspirants to quickly visit the party secretariat to obtain theirs.

He made this known in Calabar shortly after the state congress, where a 37-member executive committee was elected through consensus.

Ogar noted that recent defections within the party have been minimal, adding that only one member of the new executive has left.

He also criticized politicians who advocate unity and strong opposition but later abandon coalitions for personal interests.

According to him, committed and loyal members of the party remain firmly on ground, insisting that the ADC in the state is intact and united.

He further pledged to strengthen and reposition the party, dismissing claims of internal factionalization.

Ogar maintained that the congress was conducted in line with the party’s constitution and was supported by a court ruling affirming the authority of the state executive to organize congresses.