The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on member states to strengthen vigilance and accountability in the management of legally acquired weapons and ammunition to prevent their diversion for criminal and other illicit purposes.
The regional body stressed the importance of effective arms control measures as West African countries continue to confront security challenges associated with the proliferation and illegal circulation of small arms and light weapons.
The warning was delivered by the Acting Head of the ECOWAS Small Arms Division, Abayomi Adeomi, during a five-day training programme on physical security, stockpile management and property management for national security in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The programme brought together personnel from the Nigerian Army, Police, Air Force, Navy and other paramilitary agencies.
The training, organised by the ECOWAS Small Arms Division in collaboration with the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, focused on strengthening institutional capacity to safeguard weapons and ammunition throughout their management cycle.
ECOWAS has consistently identified diversion as a major concern within its regional arms-control framework. Its model guidance encourages member states to establish legislative and administrative procedures designed to prevent weapons and ammunition from being diverted, while also promoting risk assessments, information sharing and prompt investigations where suspected diversion occurs.
The regional organisation has also intensified efforts to improve responsible arms-transfer controls. In September 2026, ECOWAS reported that it had concluded specialised training for national focal persons in Ghana aimed at improving implementation of its exemption procedures and preventing the uncontrolled proliferation, diversion and illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons.
The issue remains significant for West Africa, where illicit weapons can contribute to organised crime, communal violence, terrorism and other security threats. The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) has similarly emphasised that effective weapons and ammunition management is essential for preventing diversion to unauthorised users and reducing the availability of illicit arms.
ECOWAS has therefore continued to encourage stronger coordination among member states, improved stockpile management, better record-keeping, responsible arms transfers and enhanced national mechanisms for controlling small arms and light weapons.
The latest warning underscores the need for governments and security institutions to ensure that weapons legally acquired for legitimate national-security purposes do not eventually find their way into the hands of criminals, armed groups or other unauthorised users.
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The regional body’s position reflects its broader objective of strengthening peace, security and stability across West Africa through improved control of arms and ammunition.
