Nigeria does not possess nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction and has never pursued a nuclear weapons programme, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, has said.
Ibrahim made the declaration while addressing the United Nations General Assembly during the 108th Plenary Meeting of the 80th Session in New York.
The Nigerian envoy, who also serves as Chairman of the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global efforts aimed at ending nuclear-weapon testing.
He also called for a review of Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter, arguing that the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of states should not prevent the international community from taking action against countries that conduct nuclear-weapon tests or possess weapons of mass destruction.
Representing the position of President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim said Nigeria has established institutions and regulatory structures to monitor and address issues connected to weapons of mass destruction and nuclear activities.
He identified the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission as one of the major institutions overseeing the country’s nuclear-related activities and regulatory framework.
Ibrahim further highlighted Nigeria’s international partnerships, noting that the country works with nations including Russia, China, France, South Korea and the United States.
He said President Tinubu had directed him to reaffirm Nigeria’s willingness to deepen international cooperation and partnerships aimed at eliminating nuclear-weapon testing globally.
The Nigerian representative also expressed the country’s support for the position presented by the African Group and congratulated the international community on the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
According to Ibrahim, Africa remains a nuclear-weapon-free zone and has consistently rejected nuclear explosive testing across the continent.
He therefore urged UN member states to maintain their efforts towards ending nuclear testing, stressing that eliminating such activities is essential to creating a safer world and reducing the threat posed by nuclear weapons.
Ibrahim also congratulated United Nations member states on the progress achieved over the past three decades in the global campaign to end nuclear testing.
