Lukman Abdulmalik
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong commitment to a comprehensive ban on nuclear testing, stating that the country is more focused on fighting poverty and climate change than pursuing nuclear arms.
Shettima made the statement on Monday while receiving the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Floyd, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima said nuclear warfare brings no winners and urged global cooperation to prevent its escalation.
“We are at war with poverty and battling the climate crisis. We have no reason to engage in anything related to nuclear weapons. I want to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,” he said.
The Vice President also commended the CTBTO for its global monitoring efforts, which include 337 stations that have successfully detected all seven nuclear tests conducted by North Korea. He noted that the CTBTO’s work also benefits civilian populations by detecting tsunamis and seismic activities.
“The CTBTO is not just about nuclear monitoring—it plays a vital role in environmental stability,” he added.
Dr. Floyd, in his remarks, praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for upholding global norms against nuclear testing. He described the relationship between Nigeria and the CTBTO as a natural and productive partnership.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s key nuclear agencies—the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA)—for their technical support and dedication to the CTBTO’s goals.
Dr. Floyd stressed the importance of data provided by Nigeria’s monitoring systems, especially in early warning for natural disasters and ecological protection.
Speaking at the meeting, NAEC Acting Chairman, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, said the partnership with CTBTO has helped build national capacity and strengthen Nigeria’s nuclear infrastructure. NNRA Director General, Dr. Yau Idris, also emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration to ensure global compliance with nuclear test ban regulations.
Other attendees included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed; CTBTO’s Senior External Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Oko; and top officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NAEC, and NNRA.
