Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Ned Nwoko has renewed his call for the passage of his self-defense bill, arguing that responsible and law-abiding citizens should be allowed to own firearms under strict licensing conditions as part of efforts to address the country’s worsening security challenges.
The Senator was speaking with Journalists at National Assembly shortly after plenary.
The lawmaker described the current state of insecurity as “very sad,” stressing that his proposed legislation would allow qualified citizens to possess firearms after undergoing rigorous screening and professional training.
According to him, the bill does not seek to arm everyone, but to provide responsible citizens with the legal means to defend themselves and their families.
He explained that prospective firearm owners would be required to undergo certified weapons training, obtain medical certification confirming they are of sound mind, and secure recommendations from their local government chairman or traditional ruler.
“Applicants would also need security clearance from the state Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Commissioner of Police before being granted a license.
The Senator argued that while criminals already possess illegal weapons, law-abiding citizens remain vulnerable because they lack the legal means to defend themselves.
He cited attacks on schools and communities as examples of situations where armed and properly trained civilians could have helped prevent or minimize casualties.
The lawmaker also highlighted a second bill proposing the establishment of licensed military contractors in Nigeria. He said the legislation is intended to harness the expertise of retired military personnel, former security operatives, and other trained individuals by organizing them into regulated private security outfits.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Iraq, he noted that private military contractors are widely used to complement national security efforts.
According to him, the initiative would provide employment opportunities for retired security personnel while reducing the risk of trained individuals being drawn into criminal activities or illegal arms trafficking.
He maintained that Nigeria invests heavily in training military personnel and should continue to benefit from their expertise after retirement through a properly regulated framework.
The senator called on Nigerians to support both legislative proposals, insisting that citizens should have greater capacity to protect themselves while complementing the efforts of conventional security agencies in combating insecurity.
