NIGERIA REITERATES COMMITMENT TO NUCLEAR TEST BAN, VP SHETTIMA ASSURES CTBTO

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a comprehensive nuclear test ban through collaboration with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Shettima as saying that Africa’s priority is to address existential challenges of poverty and the effects of climate change, not the pursuit of nuclear weapons capability.

“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite,” Nkwocha quoted Shettima as saying. “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 for its role in detecting nuclear tests, noting that the organisation’s monitors also serve civilian purposes, especially in assisting in the detection of tsunamis and volcanic seismic activities.

Shettima said, “The beauty of CTBTO’s function is that its monitors also serve civilian purposes, especially in assisting us to detect tsunamis, volcanic seismic activities. Your functions are contributing to the global stability of our ecology.” He appreciated the CTBTO’s extra vigilance, having 337 stations spread across the world, and noted that all seven tests conducted by DPR Korea were detected.

CTBTO Executive Secretary, Dr. Robert 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. Floyd described the relationship between the organisation and Nigeria as a natural partnership, highlighting the country’s quality technical inputs and commitment to the actualisation of the CTBTO’s goals.

Stanley Nkwocha further stated that the Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, and the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr. Yau Idris, spoke about the collaboration between their agencies and the CTBTO in ensuring global adherence to international regulations on nuclear tests and ban. The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CTBTO.