Vice-President Kashim Shettima has firmly stated that Nigeria has no interest in developing nuclear weapons, reiterating the country’s commitment to global peace, security, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Speaking during a courtesy visit from Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, Shettima emphasized that Nigeria is focused on combating poverty, addressing climate change, and building socioeconomic resilience, rather than developing arms.
“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite,” said the Vice-President.
“We are fighting poverty; we are fighting a war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons.”
Shettima commended the CTBTO’s global monitoring network, which comprises 337 stations worldwide, for its role in promoting global security and civilian applications, such as tsunami and earthquake detection.
Nigeria’s Commitment to Nuclear Test Ban
Dr. Robert Floyd, in his remarks, praised Nigeria’s longstanding support for the CTBT and highlighted the country as a “natural partner” in the global effort to end nuclear weapons testing.
He acknowledged contributions from Nigerian agencies like the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), which have helped advance nuclear monitoring and disaster warning systems.
“Nigeria has played a key role in generating seismic data used for early warnings, benefiting not only Africa but the global community,” Floyd noted.
Strengthening Collaboration with CTBTO
Anthony Ekedegwa, Acting Chairman of NAEC, emphasized Nigeria’s collaboration with the CTBTO, which has significantly enhanced the country’s technical capabilities in nuclear science and monitoring.
Dr. Yau Idris, Director-General of NNRA, also reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to international nuclear safety protocols and continued compliance with global standards on nuclear testing and regulation.
