By Abiola Olawale
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to a global nuclear test ban, emphasizing that the country has no interest in developing nuclear weapons.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to him by Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima said Nigeria’s focus is on tackling poverty and climate change over military ambitions.
The Vice President stressed that Nigeria, alongside other African nations, is focused on existential challenges that directly impact its people.
Shettima explained: “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. 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.”
This stance comes in the wake of recent global tensions, including the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, which raised concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of CTBTO, Dr Floyd, applauded Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for contributing to the attainment of the global average in the reduction of nuclear testing and establishment of strong norms against it, describing the relationship between the organisation and the country as a natural partnership.
Highlighting the contributions of Nigeria through focal agencies – the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr Floyd acknowledged the quality of technical inputs and the commitment by the country in the actualisation of the goals of the CTBTO.
