Nigeria commits to nuclear test ban – Shettima

…says priority is to address hunger, poverty, others

Vice President Kashim Shettima had said that Nigeria is committed to comprehensive nuclear test ban.

He also assured that the country is working in collaboration with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), to ensure a safe and nuclear free environment.

Shettima also stated that the country’s priority is to address its existential challenges of poverty and the effects of climate change, not the pursuit of nuclear weapons capability.

Shettima stated this on Monday when he received on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Robert Floyd, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), according to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of The Vice President.

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

He stated that Nigeria, is currently fighting poverty; war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that “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,” he noted.

Shettima, while commending the CTBTO for its role, 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.”

Floyd, who applauded Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Tinubu for contributing to the attainment of the global average in the reduction of nuclear testing and establishment of strong norms against it, described 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.

Floyd emphasised the significance of the data generated by the NAEC and NNRA, particularly in saving lives through early detection of natural disasters and other human activities that are inimical to orderliness in the ecosystem.

On his part, Anthony Ekedegwa, Acting Chairman of NAEC, said Nigeria’s partnership with the CTBTO through the Commission had been instrumental in building capacity and equipping the centre for the development of the sector in the country.

Also speaking at the event, Yau Idris, Director General/ CEO of the NNRA, applauded the collaboration between his Agency and the CTBTO in ensuring global adherence to international regulations on nuclear tests and ban.