Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the global ban on nuclear weapons testing.
Speaking during a meeting at the Presidential Villa with the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr Robert Floyd, and his delegation, Shettima emphasised that Nigeria, like many other African nations, is grappling with pressing socio-economic issues.
He explained that the continent’s immediate priorities remain tackling poverty and mitigating the impacts of climate change, not the development of nuclear weapons capabilities.
“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.
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“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,” he said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima praised the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) for extending its expertise beyond nuclear monitoring to crucial civilian applications, such as early detection of tsunamis and seismic activities from volcanic eruptions, which he said play a vital role in safeguarding global ecological stability.
In response, CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd commended Nigeria’s steadfast commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration towards reducing nuclear testing worldwide and strengthening global norms against it. He described the partnership between Nigeria and the CTBTO as both natural and strategic.
Dr Floyd also recognised the valuable contributions of Nigeria’s focal institutions – the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). He lauded their technical expertise and dedication, which he noted have significantly advanced the organisation’s objectives.