The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government has declared that the country has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons, stressing that its most urgent battle is against poverty and climate challenges confronting the African continent.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Floyd, to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to a statement posted on the official X handle of the Nigerian Presidency, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a total ban on nuclear tests, urging the international community to focus on issues that directly threaten the survival of developing nations.
“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite. We are fighting poverty; we are fighting a war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa,” Shettima stated.
“We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons. I want to assure and reiterate our commitment to a comprehensive nuclear test ban, and I want to appreciate your organisation for the extra vigilance you have taken, having 337 stations spread across the world. All seven tests conducted by DPR Korea were detected,” he added.
Shettima also praised the CTBTO’s global monitoring network, which not only tracks nuclear activities but also supports disaster prediction and mitigation.
“The beauty of CTBTO’s function is that its monitors also serve civilian purposes, especially in assisting us to detect tsunamis, volcanic seismic activities. Your functions are contributing to the global stability of our ecology,” the Vice President said.
Responding, Dr. Robert Floyd, the CTBTO Executive Secretary, commended Nigeria for playing a leading role in strengthening the international norm against nuclear testing. He praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for maintaining a strong stance in favour of peace and disarmament.
“Your country has been instrumental in the global drive to eliminate nuclear tests,” Dr. Floyd said, adding that Nigeria’s collaboration with agencies like the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) has contributed significantly to global safety and environmental monitoring.
He emphasised that the data generated by Nigeria’s nuclear bodies has helped in detecting natural disasters and monitoring human activities that could damage the ecosystem.
On his part, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, Acting Chairman of the NAEC, noted that the agency’s partnership with the CTBTO has helped build critical capacity in Nigeria’s nuclear sector.
Similarly, Dr. Yau Idris, Director General of the NNRA, highlighted the agency’s work in aligning with global regulatory standards and ensuring Nigeria remains in full compliance with international treaties on nuclear testing.
Also in attendance at the high-level meeting were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, CTBTO’s Senior External Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Oko, and senior officials from NAEC, NNRA, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Nigerian government’s position comes as global tensions remain high over nuclear weapons testing and proliferation, with experts warning that any resurgence in nuclear conflicts could spell disaster for humanity, especially in regions already battling poverty, inequality, and climate instability.
