VP hosts CTBTO Chief, highlights Africa’s priorities amid global security efforts
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the global nuclear test ban treaty, emphasizing that the country has no interest in pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.
Speaking on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Floyd, at the Presidential Villa, Shettima stressed that Africa’s most pressing challenges remain poverty and climate change—not nuclear armament.
“The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always catastrophic,” Shettima declared. “We are fighting poverty. We are at war with the harsh realities of climate change and economic instability in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything related to nuclear weapons.”
The Vice-President commended the CTBTO’s global vigilance, highlighting the organization’s network of 337 monitoring stations that have successfully detected all seven nuclear tests conducted by North Korea.
“The beauty of CTBTO’s role lies in its dual-purpose monitoring system, which also assists in detecting tsunamis, seismic and volcanic activities. Your work supports global ecological stability,” Shettima added.
Dr. Floyd, in his remarks, lauded Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its contributions to the global effort in reducing nuclear testing and upholding strong international norms against it.
He described Nigeria’s partnership with CTBTO as a “natural alliance,” praising the efforts of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in supporting the organization’s mission.
Floyd noted that data generated by Nigeria’s focal agencies had played a key role in early warning systems for natural disasters, saving lives and promoting ecological balance.
Also present at the meeting, the Acting Chairman of NAEC, Anthony Ekedegwa, credited the collaboration with CTBTO for significant capacity building and infrastructural development in Nigeria’s atomic energy sector.
The Director-General of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris, emphasized the importance of continued cooperation in ensuring adherence to international protocols on nuclear test bans.
With this renewed commitment, Nigeria continues to stand as a key African voice advocating for a world free of nuclear testing and the dangers it poses to global security and environmental stability.
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