Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a committee to work out modalities to transform the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM) to a National Commission.

Minister of Defence, retired Brigadier-General Mansur Dan-Ali, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the quarterly meeting of the National Security Council.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

“We discussed how we intend to curtail proliferation of arms into the country.

”A presidential approval was given to my office in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser to come up with a National Commission on small arms and light weapons restriction in the country.

”This is in line with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convention which says each country within the ECOWAS should have such commission.’’

According to the minister, the armed forces is currently synergising with other security agencies through intelligence sharing and joint operations to address the various security challenges facing the country.

He stressed the need by the relevant security agencies to tackle the propagation of hate speeches especially through the social media by Nigerians.

Dan-Ali thanked the President for his continuous funding of the Armed forces of Nigeria to perform its constitutional role especially now that Nigeria is facing multiple security challenges.