Says Africa must focus on eradicating poverty and combating climate change, not nuclear armament
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), emphasizing that the country’s priorities and indeed Africa’s lie in tackling poverty and climate change, not pursuing nuclear weapons.
He made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa by the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr Robert Floyd.
“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite,” Shettima said. “We are fighting poverty. We are engaged in a war to balance economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business getting involved in nuclear armament.”
He reiterated Nigeria’s full support for the CTBT and commended the CTBTO’s global surveillance efforts through its 337 monitoring stations, which he said serve both security and civilian purposes, including early warnings for tsunamis and volcanic activities.
“I want to appreciate your organisation for the extra vigilance you have taken. All seven nuclear tests conducted by DPR Korea were successfully detected. Your work contributes immensely to global ecological stability,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, Dr Floyd, commended Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for helping to advance the global norm against nuclear testing. He described the relationship between Nigeria and the CTBTO as a natural partnership.
Dr Floyd also praised the contributions of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), citing the country’s strong technical inputs and steadfast commitment to the goals of the CTBTO.
He emphasized the value of data generated by both agencies, which have proven critical in saving lives by detecting natural disasters and monitoring environmental disruptions.
Also speaking, the Acting Chairman of NAEC, Engr Anthony Ekedegwa, highlighted how Nigeria’s collaboration with the CTBTO has helped build local capacity and strengthen the nation’s nuclear development frameworks.
In the same vein, the Director General and CEO of the NNRA, Dr Yau Idris, underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration with the CTBTO in upholding global standards and ensuring compliance with international nuclear test ban regulations.
The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, CTBTO’s Senior External Relations Officer, Mr Charles Oko, and other senior officials from the Ministry, NAEC, and NNRA.
