The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNERC), are working together to reduce the proliferation of illicit arms in circulation in Nigeria and other Africa countries to curb terrorism and criminality.

Samuel Bwalya, the UNDP Country Director while addressing participants at a symposium on Wednesday in Abuja attributed violent extremism, banditry, terrorism and other criminal acts to the proliferation of arms.

The porous borders existing in African countries has also encouraged substantial trans-border criminal activities, including human trafficking and illicit flow of small arms.

In the same vein, Dr. Jiaming Miao The UNREC Deputy Director stated that insecurity in the Lake Chad region has increased the proliferation of small arms.

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