Joel Ajayi

President of the Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation(NSSF), Commodore Shettima Sagir Mohammed, Tuesday, led a high-level delegation of Board Members of the Federation on landmark visits to Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Director-General of the National Commission for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons(NCCSALW) under the Office of the National Security Adviser of the Federal Government of Nigeria, in Abuja.

The visits, aimed at fostering synergy and exploring avenues for collaboration, sought to promote the NSSF’s objectives to enhance marksmanship skills, promote responsible gun ownership, while contributing to Nigeria’s efforts towards a safer society.

At the Nigerian Navy Headquarters, the delegation held fruitful discussions with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who was represented by the Chief of Naval Administration, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mamman, as the President, Commodore Shettima, also of the Nigerian Navy, introduced members of his team, briefing his host about the vision and mission of the NSSF, while seeking the support and collaboration of the Nigerian Navy to help both Organizations achieve their set goals.

He disclosed that the NSSF offers job opportunities for retired weapons’ training instructors to become internationally certificated as shooting coaches, referees, technicians, armourers and judges.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jonathan stated that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of Vice Admiral Idi Abbas is committed to mutually beneficial partnership with the NSSF, especially in the areas of sponsoring  the hosting of zonal and national shooting tournaments, and idea-sharing.
He promised to brief his principal on the outcome of the meeting for further action.

Shortly after, the delegation was received by the Director-General of the National Council for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Johnson Babatunde Kokuwo, at the latter’s office in Abuja.

In his remarks, the NSSF President, Commodore Shettima told the NCCSALW Director-General that the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce members of his Board, inform him about the Federation’s activities, and seek avenues for collaboration.

“Basically, we are here to formally introduce ourselves and our Federation to you and your organization as a way to familiarize with each other as arms-bearing Organizations in Nigeria, and seek ways we can work together to achieve our set objectives.

“We have participated and still participating in national and international shooting sport activities. We train in shooting competitions, and we have won series of medals in the sport, including at the Olympics.

“However, due to the pockets of security situation in the country, Shooting Sport hasn’t been getting its rightful place as a section of the society misinterprets what we do.

“Parts of our reform processes, when this current Board of the Federation assumed office about three months ago, included reviewing the existing Constitution of the Federation, need to identify with your Organization as we are working assiduously to harmonize shooting and hunting under one edifice so as to help the Government account for all arms that are not in the possession of the military or para-military personnel.

“Though, the country’s Constitution permits for the ownership of certain small arms like the double-barrelled and pump action guns for gaming and recreational purposes, and Air Rifle and Air Pistol which are basically for shooting sport activities.

“These may not be lethal weapons, but when applied with deliberate intentions, can be lethal. 
“For us in shooting, we use some of these weapons for sport, and I am glad that your organization is there to ensure that one accounts for every weapon in Nigeria, whether in the hands of the Military or Para-military personnel, including us in the NSSF, because we also import weapons for sport activities through legitimate processes, and we hope that this synergy between our organisation and yours will make it easier to trace and control weapons’ circulation.

“Already, we are deep in discussion with the Military and Para-military Agencies to ensure that all arms-bearing individuals should, at least, be registered members of the NSSF, which gives such individuals institutional identity beyond their personal identity.

“This means a weapon in your possession which is approved by the Government of Nigeria would be registered to your name, and in the event that something negative happens in the future, rather than the authority looking for that individual, it  tracks them to the Organization they are registered with, which will be used to identify the individual accordingly.

“This method simplifies the purposes of usage of the legitimate weapons at our disposition, in line with global best practices”, the NSSF President explained.

Responding, the Director-General of the NCCSALW, Deputy Inspector General of Police(Rtd), Johnson Babatunde Kokuwo, appreciated the delegation for the visit, assuring to work in collaboration with the NSSF Board to achieve the visions and missions of both Organizations.

“Thank you for your visit. NCCSALW is an Organisation established by the Executive Directive of former Nigeria’s President, Late Muhammadu Buhari(GCFR), a Bill later assented to by the incumbent President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is in response to the Economic Community of West African States'(ECOWAS’) Convention, which Nigeria was a signatory to in 2006.”

He noted that the NCCSALW works in collaboration with arms-bearing Organizations, individuals and corporate entities in Nigeria and abroad to fight proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in circulation which have, hitherto, been responsible for violent crimes across boards.

Babatunde revealed that the visit was vital and timely as he pledged to work in synergy with the Commodore Shettima-led Board of the NSSF to rid Nigeria of illicit small arms and light weapons.

According to the NSSF President, the familiarization tour would extend to other related offices in the coming days across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Formerly known as the Nigeria Shooting Association when it was founded in 1976, the Association’s nomenclature later metamorphosed into the Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation, NSSF. 
The Federation is affiliated to the African Shooting Sport Federation (ASSF), and the International Shooting Sport Federation(ISSF).

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