Given the rising level of insecurity in the country, Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Upper Chambers, has described how his proposed bill will permit Nigerians to carry arms for self-defense.
Nwoko appeared as a guest on Arise TV's Morning Show on Thursday. The senator had earlier demanded that a bill authorizing the possession and carrying of firearms by citizens be introduced.
He said, “Talking about my bill, it is not just about people carrying arms, or just going into a store to buy arms, there are measures that have been proposed and they are very strict. In America, every citizen has a right to bear arms and it is enshrined in their constitution. In Nigeria, it is not so.
“So, what I am trying to do specifically is to have a system where people who are willing to carry arms are given the opportunity. One of the first conditions to be met is that every local government area must have a gun shooting school and if you want to bear arms, the first thing to do is to get trained on how to use it and in every local government area, there will be shooting schools run by former military officers which are owned by them.
“Now, when you have been certified to have gone through the training, the next thing you will do will be to go to your King, Emir, or Oba who will give you a letter certifying that you’re from that particular place and the next thing is to go to two doctors and those two doctors must certify that you are mentally fit to bear arms and then you go to your local government chairman who must also confirm that you’re from that particular LG. Then, you’d go to the Divisional Police Officer of that locality and the DPO must confirm that you do not have any criminal records and you’re not a wanted person".
Nwoko stated that the bill was proposed after careful consideration of Nigerians' plights at the hands of individuals who have made themselves a danger to the society.
