NIGERIA REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO NUCLEAR TEST BAN

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the global nuclear test ban treaty, emphasizing that Africa’s priorities lie in combating poverty and addressing climate change, not in pursuing nuclear arms.
Speaking on Monday July 7th during a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja by Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Shettima stated that the continent’s focus is development-oriented and peace-driven.
“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,” the Vice President said.
While acknowledging the indispensable role of CTBTO’s global monitoring network, Shettima commended the organisation’s vigilance, citing the detection of all seven nuclear tests conducted by North Korea as a testament to its effectiveness. He further noted that CTBTO’s functions have wide-ranging benefits beyond nuclear surveillance, including early detection of natural disasters like tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.
In his remarks, Dr. Floyd lauded Nigeria’s consistent leadership within the CTBTO framework and acknowledged the country’s contributions through agencies such as the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). He emphasized that Nigeria’s participation has been instrumental in building global norms against nuclear testing.
NAEC’s Acting Chairman, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, and NNRA Director General, Dr. Yau Idris, also commended the collaboration, citing improvements in local capacity and compliance with international nuclear safety regulations. Present at the meeting were senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CTBTO representatives, and regulatory agencies.