The increase in corruption and the unhealthy struggle for power among the political elite have been identified as factors boosting illegal trade in firearms in the country.
The National President, Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Practitioners Association (NASA), Folashade Okeshola, who disclosed this said that the increase in corruption and indiscipline in high places has created deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness among the active population, especially the youth.
Speaking at the 22nd National Conference of the Association held at the University of Ibadan themed ‘Contours of Change, Modern Conflict and Mode of Production in Nigeria’ noted that “small arms have continued to find their way into the hands of unauthorised persons while many Nigerians who have lost confidence in the ability of the Nigerian police to protect them are also taking up arms”.
While noting that Nigerians are deeply frustrated with the heightened sense of hopelessness under present change agenda especially the youth, the professor called for improved socio-economic welfare for Nigerians.
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While asking president Buhari to alter the present dimensions of conflicts in Nigeria, the NASA president, a professor noted that conflicts of different dimensions are affecting the mode of production of people with battered well-being of many families.
“Small arms have continued to find their ways into the hands of unauthorized persons. This has resulted in the use of weapons by criminals for various crimes. People have lost confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and have resorted to illegal possession of firearms for self-protection.
Increase in corruption and indiscipline over the years has created deep frustration and a sense of hopelessness among the active population especially the youths. All these, coupled with religious intolerance, ethnicity and the unhealthy struggle for power among the elites, have served as a boost for illegal trade in firearms”
Declaring the conference open, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka noted that the present change under Buhari administration can realise its objectives only through a credible, well-calibrated, transparent and bottom-up change process woven around sustainable human development framework that guarantees the restoration of human dignity through the social contract.
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
