Senator Orji Uzor Kalu don open one chapter of him arm dealing past wey fit make many Nigerians stop small and ask serious questions. Former Abia State governor and current senator representing Abia North don reveal say before e enter politics, e once dey involved in arms dealing, and according to wetin e tell interviewer, anybody wey get money fit buy weapons from am. But the most surprising part no be just say e dey sell guns; na the way e describe him attitude towards wetin buyers fit use the weapons do. As Nigeria continue to battle insecurity, kidnapping and armed violence, this revelation don bring another serious conversation about people wey dey involved in supplying weapons.
ARMS DEALING: ORJI KALU SAY MONEY NA THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR CUSTOMER
During one interview with Charles Aniagolu for Arise Television Prime Time programme, titled Orji Kalu: Business, Politics and Ambition, Kalu discuss him business background, political journey and relationship with influential African leaders. Na during the conversation the interviewer ask am directly whether e ever be arms dealer. Kalu answer with simple ‘Yes’, confirming say e don involve himself in the arms dealing business before.
When the interviewer further ask whether e dey sell guns to people wey fit use am kill others, Kalu explain say him main intention na to make money, adding say whether bloodshed happen after the sales no be him concern. When Aniagolu ask whether e sell weapons to the African National Congress (ANC), Kalu explain say e no restrict him customers to any particular organisation. According to am, anybody wey get money and wan buy fit become customer. E also refuse to disclose where e dey get the weapons from, insisting say na information wey only e know.
The conversation later move towards Libya and former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. When the interviewer ask whether e sell weapons to Libya, Kalu respond say e sell to anybody wey get money to buy. When the interviewer mention Gaddafi by name, Kalu describe the late Libyan leader as a good man, but e no directly confirm say Gaddafi personally buy weapons from am. Therefore, make Nigerians no confuse the questions wey interviewer ask with transactions wey Kalu actually confirm.
Kalu also reveal say na him parents eventually convince am to abandon the arms business. According to am, him mother and father come meet am and insist say e must stop, and e obey their instruction. So, while some people fit find am funny say na parental advice close the business, the bigger matter concern the nature of the trade, the identity of the customers and the responsibility wey come with supplying weapons.
ARMS DEALING: NIGERIA SECURITY CHALLENGES AND THE BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT GUN CONTROL
Kalu revelation dey come at a time wey Nigeria still dey struggle with serious security problems involving illegal firearms, armed groups, kidnapping and criminal networks. The Federal Government don establish the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons to coordinate efforts against illegal circulation of weapons. Nigeria also dey operate under regional agreements wey aim to control the movement, transfer and possession of small arms across West Africa.
The scale of the problem no be something wey government fit overlook. One national survey wey dem conduct for 2016 estimate say approximately 6.4 million firearms dey in civilian hands across Nigeria at that time. Although this figure no represent the confirmed number of weapons wey dey circulate today, e still show how serious the small-arms dealing challenge don be for the country. For September 2026, Nigerian authorities also report the interception of 3,199 assorted automatic weapons at Atinkan Island, as investigations into the network behind their importation continue.
Government and regional security organisations don also increase efforts to prevent weapons from entering illegal markets. Nigeria authorities don carry out operations to destroy obsolete and recovered firearms, while security personnel dey receive training on how to protect weapon stockpiles and prevent firearms from entering unauthorised hands. The main objective na to reduce the circulation of illegal weapons wey fit later enter the hands of criminals and armed groups.
Against this background, Kalu statement deserve more than social media jokes and political arguments. The senator don confirm say e previously involve himself in arms dealing, but the interview alone no establish whether any particular transaction break the law or whether e supply weapons to any specific criminal organisation. E also no disclose the dates, licences, locations or records of the transactions. These details matter because legal arms trading and illegal weapons trafficking no be the same thing. However, when a public figure openly describe selling weapons without concerning himself with how buyers go use them, questions about responsibility, proper checks and accountability naturally go arise.
The matter wey Nigerians suppose focus on now no be only how Kalu take enter arms dealing business or how him parents take convince am to leave. The bigger questions concern when the business happen, who the customers be, where the weapons come from and whether the transactions follow the laws governing international arms trade. Arms dealing no be ordinary business wey consequences end immediately after customer pay and carry product go house; one weapon fit destroy several innocent lives long after the transaction don happen.
Kalu don share part of him history, but several important details still remain undisclosed. OGM News Pidgin go continue to monitor the matter and bring una any important clarification or fresh development wey emerge from this controversial revelation.
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