Abstract
This study investigates the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria from 2010 to 2025 and its implications for national security, guided by the Failed State Theory and the Human Security Theory. Using secondary data from ACLED, UNODC, the Small Arms Survey, and Nigerian government reports, the research identifies key drivers of SALW proliferation, including porous borders, insurgency dynamics, organized criminal networks, and persistent corruption. Findings show that the proliferation of SALW has fueled armed conflict, resulting in over 3.3 million internally displaced persons by 2023, with more than half being children, and imposing significant humanitarian and fiscal burdens on the state. Although tactical interventions such as arms seizures have had short-term effects, systemic weaknesses have prevented sustainable security improvements. In conclusion, the study confirms that SALW proliferation poses both structural and human security threats. Consistent with the Small Arms Survey (2023), the study recommends strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing border control to effectively curb the flow of illicit arms.
Keywords: Small Arms Proliferation, National Security, Human Security, Failed State Theory, Nigeria, Internal Displacement, Arms Trafficking.
1. Introduction
The pursuit of national security is a fundamental imperative for state sovereignty and socioeconomic development, forming the very core of the social contract between the state and its citizenry (Hobbes, 1651/2008). Within the contemporary Nigerian context, however, this imperative is profoundly undermined by the pervasive and uncontrolled movement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). Defined by the United Nations as easily portable conventional weapons designed for individual or crew use, the proliferation of SALW constitutes a critical challenge, shifting the balance of coercive power away from the state and into the hands of non-state actors (UN Report, 1997). This phenomenon has systematically exacerbated existing fault lines, transforming localized communal disputes into large-scale, lethal conflicts.
2. Methodology
This study adopted a descriptive and analytical research design, drawing on secondary data to examine the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria and its implications for national security between 2010 and 2025. The descriptive approach enabled systematic documentation of trends, patterns, and relationships, while analytical techniques facilitated interpretation of data in relation to the study objectives and theoretical frameworks.
3. Discussion
This section presents and analyses data obtained from reliable secondary sources. The data, covering the period from 2010 to 2025, were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques in SPSS, focusing on frequencies, percentages, and trend patterns. The presentation was guided by the studyโs objectives, which analyses the implication of Proliferation of Small Arms on Nigeriaโs National Security.
4. Conclusion
The study concludes that SALW proliferation in Nigeria is structurally rooted and sustained by governance deficits, porous borders, and persistent conflict. The interplay between high internal demand and weak institutional capacity has created a self-reinforcing cycle of insecurity. Using the Failed State Theory, the findings highlight how institutional weakness and corruption enable trafficking networks to flourish despite tactical government interventions. Human Security Theory further illustrates that the crisis extends beyond state-level concerns, severely affecting civilians through displacement, loss of life, and the erosion of social cohesion. In essence, while Nigeria possesses the technical and operational capacity to intervene, the absence of sustained structural reform and effective policy implementation undermines longterm stability. SALW proliferation thus remains a foundational threat to both national security and human development, requiring integrated solutions that strengthen institutions while prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations.
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