Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to a comprehensive global ban on nuclear testing, declaring that Africa’s urgent priorities lie in fighting poverty and mitigating the impacts of climate change, not in the pursuit of nuclear armament.

Speaking on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Floyd, the Vice President emphasized that any involvement in nuclear conflict offers no winners, only devastating consequences.

“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite,” Shettima said.

“We are fighting poverty and confronting the economic-ecological crisis across sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons.”

He commended the CTBTO for its vigilance, particularly in global monitoring efforts, noting the organisation’s successful detection of all seven nuclear tests conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“I want to assure and reiterate our commitment to a comprehensive nuclear test ban. I also appreciate your organisation for the extra vigilance you have taken, with 337 monitoring stations spread across the globe,” Shettima added.

The Vice President also highlighted the civilian benefits of CTBTO’s operations, noting that its monitoring systems are crucial in detecting natural disasters such as tsunamis and volcanic activities, thereby contributing to ecological stability.

In his remarks, CTBTO Executive Secretary Dr. Robert Floyd praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu, noting its steady contributions to the global movement against nuclear testing.

“Nigeria’s relationship with the CTBTO is a natural partnership,” Dr. Floyd said.
“We appreciate the quality of Nigeria’s technical inputs and its commitment to the Treaty’s objectives, especially through key agencies like the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).”

He stressed the life-saving significance of data generated by Nigeria’s monitoring infrastructure, particularly in disaster early-warning systems and environmental risk detection.

Also speaking, Acting Chairman of NAEC, Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, described Nigeria’s collaboration with the CTBTO as instrumental in developing local expertise and infrastructure for nuclear monitoring.

Similarly, Director General of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris, underlined the agency’s continued efforts in upholding international regulations on nuclear testing and bans through its strategic partnership with the CTBTO.

The meeting also had in attendance the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed; CTBTO Senior External Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Oko; as well as senior officials from the Ministry, NAEC, and NNRA.