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This paper examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) in Nigeria and their deepening impact on rising criminality and national security challenges. By tracing the issue from Africa’s colonial and post-colonial conflicts through to contemporary times, the study highlights Nigeria’s systemic vulnerabilities, including porous borders, institutional weaknesses, corruption, and inadequate security infrastructure, which facilitate the illicit flow and local production of SALWs. These factors perpetuate cycles of violence, including terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes, which destabilise both local communities and the broader nation. The study also underscores the transnational nature of arms trafficking in the West African region, emphasising how weak national governance intersects with complex regional security dynamics, thereby complicating unilateral efforts to stem the flow of illicit weapons. Ultimately, the paper advocates for comprehensive approaches that strengthen national institutions, promote good governance and enhance regional cooperation to address both the root causes and consequences of arms proliferation. Without such coordinated and sustained action, Nigeria’s security, political stability, and economic development remain seriously jeopardised, with significant repercussions for peace and security across West Africa.

Small Arms, Light Weapons, Proliferation, National Security, Cold War, Crime,