Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged Nigeria’s commitment to the implementation of United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) of April 2013.

Jonathan made the promise at a three-day National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Illicit Arms and Light Weapons which opened in Abuja on Monday.

Represented by Minister of Interior Abba Moro, Jonathan said the ATT was in the best interest of Africa.

The President urged countries that had yet to implement the ATT in Africa to do so in order to expedite its ratification to enable it to come into force.

Mr Kadre Ouedraogo, the President of ECOWAS Commission, said the adoption of the ATT was one of the greatest achievements since the creation of the UN.

Represented by Mrs Khadi Saccoh, ECOWAS Commissioner for Finance, Ouedraogo congratulated Nigeria for being the first member to ratify the treaty followed by Mali.

Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), said the committee was focused on mopping up excess weapons in Nigeria.

Other areas of focus are preventing entry of SALW, improving stockpile management, regulating brokers, monitoring local manufacturers and reviewing existing legislations, among others.

Illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons had been blamed on the 12 major conflicts in Africa between 2000 and 2009.

The arms were not mopped up during subsequent demobilisation, disarmament and rehabilitation.

– NAN