Security consultant Richard Kumadoe has expressed his disapproval of the Ministry of the Interior’s choice to annul all current firearm licences, labeling the directive as ambiguous and potentially detrimental to law-abiding gun owners.
He likened the ministry’s action to revoking all drivers’ licences as a solution to poor driving behavior.
This criticism comes in the wake of an announcement by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, stating that all firearm owners must reapply under a new licensing framework.
The suggested reforms entail compulsory mental health and drug screenings as part of initiatives to strengthen gun control and improve public safety.
In an interview conducted on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Mr. Kumadoe questioned the logic behind the blanket revocation of all licences rather than addressing specific compliance issues within the existing system.
“Are we suggesting that if individuals are not driving responsibly on the roads, we should simply revoke every driver’s licence in the nation?” he inquired.
He pointed out that prior government initiatives had encouraged firearm owners to register and regularize their weapons, resulting in many citizens obtaining licences in good faith.
“Remember, during the gun amnesty campaign, one of the messages was that individuals could retain their firearms, provided they registered and regularized them. Many people received their licences just two weeks ago. Now, without any prior notice, you proceed to revoke all of these licences,” he remarked.
Mr. Kumadoe contended that the directive has generated confusion for licensed firearm owners, especially those who have adhered to existing regulations and now find themselves without clear instructions on how to move forward.
“Individuals possess firearms in their homes and have registered them. Now that their licences have been revoked and there are no guidelines on what to do next, if a police officer enters and discovers those firearms without licences, they may face serious inquiries,” he concluded.
He cautioned that a lack of explicit implementation guidelines and timelines might lead to legal and operational difficulties for both gun owners and law enforcement agencies.
“This is an issue with this type of policy and its associated timeline,” Mr. Kumadoe remarked.
The Interior Ministry has stated that the new licensing framework aims to enhance the oversight of firearm ownership and mitigate the risk of gun-related violence by implementing more stringent screening and monitoring processes.
