Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, made the call on Tuesday at a high-level UN meeting on nuclear disarmament in New York.

The meeting was held to mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Nigeria rejects nuclear dependence

Ibrahim said Nigeria believed that the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of nuclear weapons was their total elimination.

He expressed concern that thousands of nuclear warheads remained in existence while nuclear-weapon States continued to modernise their arsenals amid rising geopolitical tensions and pressure on global arms-control arrangements.

“Nigeria firmly believes that the only absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is their total elimination,” Ibrahim said.

The envoy said Nigeria neither possessed nuclear weapons nor considered them necessary for its national security.

“Nigeria does not possess nuclear weapons, has never pursued a nuclear-weapons programme and has no intention of doing so. Our security does not depend on nuclear weapons,” he said.

According to him, lasting global security should instead be anchored on dialogue, international law, multilateral cooperation and equal security for all countries.

Tinubu administration backs disarmament

Ibrahim said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to international efforts aimed at achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

He said Nigeria was ready to work with other countries to advance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The ambassador urged nuclear-weapon States to honour their disarmament obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

He also called for the irreversible, transparent and verifiable elimination of existing nuclear arsenals.

“The continued modernisation of nuclear weapons and reliance on nuclear deterrence only heighten the risks of miscalculation, escalation and catastrophic humanitarian consequences,” he said.

Nigeria reaffirms NPT commitment

The Nigerian representative reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, describing it as a cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

He encouraged countries that have not joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to consider doing so as part of global efforts to eliminate nuclear arms.

Ibrahim also pointed to Africa’s experience under the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established the continent as a nuclear-weapon-free zone.

“Africa has already demonstrated what is possible through the Treaty of Pelindaba,” he said.

“Nigeria remains proud of Africa’s contribution to global nuclear disarmament and supports the establishment and strengthening of nuclear-weapon-free zones in other regions.”

Nigeria backs peaceful nuclear technology

While advocating the elimination of nuclear weapons, Ibrahim said Nigeria supported the peaceful development and use of nuclear science and technology.

He said peaceful applications should comply with international obligations and contribute to sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, water management and sustainable development.

“The choice before us is clear. Our collective security cannot continue to depend on weapons capable of destroying humanity,” Ibrahim said.

He pledged Nigeria’s continued engagement with UN member states to promote practical, inclusive and verifiable measures towards complete nuclear disarmament.

“Nigeria, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will continue to work with all Member States” towards achieving “a safer, more peaceful and nuclear-weapons-free world,” Ibrahim said.