Shettima Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment to Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated Nigeria’s unwavering support for the global ban on nuclear weapons testing, describing the country’s priorities as firmly rooted in addressing poverty and climate change—not in pursuing nuclear capability.

He made this known during a meeting with a delegation from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) led by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Robert Floyd, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Shettima emphasised that like many other African nations, Nigeria is grappling with severe socio-economic issues, making the idea of developing nuclear weapons completely irrelevant.

“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,” he stated.

He went further to express Nigeria’s full support for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and praised the CTBTO’s global surveillance efforts.

“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.

Shettima also commended the CTBTO’s contributions beyond nuclear monitoring, noting its role in detecting natural disasters such as tsunamis and volcanic seismic activities, which contribute significantly to global environmental stability.

In response, Dr. Floyd applauded Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and highlighted the country’s role in advancing the global norm against nuclear testing. He described the partnership between CTBTO and Nigeria as a “natural alliance.”

He further acknowledged the efforts of Nigeria’s focal agencies—the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA)—for their technical expertise and dedication toward the goals of the CTBTO.

Dr. Floyd praised the quality of Nigeria’s technical inputs and its consistent commitment to the success of the treaty, saying the country remains an important player in the global movement toward a world free of nuclear testing.