Nigeria has categorically declared that it does not possess, nor has it ever pursued, nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). The country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, delivered this affirmation during the 108th Plenary Meeting of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Ambassador Ibrahim, who also serves as Chairman of the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, used the global platform to reiterate Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to international disarmament efforts, specifically the cessation of nuclear testing and the complete elimination of WMD threats.
In a significant diplomatic intervention, the Nigerian envoy called for a re-evaluation of Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter, which enshrines the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. While acknowledging the importance of state sovereignty, Ibrahim argued that this provision should not serve as a shield to protect nations that engage in nuclear testing or possess WMDs. He stressed that the international community must retain the capacity to act against such threats, regardless of domestic jurisdiction claims.
Conveying the official position of President Bola Tinubu, Ambassador Ibrahim detailed Nigeria’s robust domestic infrastructure for monitoring nuclear activities. He highlighted the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) as the primary institution overseeing the country’s nuclear regulatory framework and ensuring compliance with international safety and non-proliferation standards.
Reinforcing its commitment to global security, Nigeria maintains active cooperation with several nuclear-capable states, including Russia, China, France, South Korea, and the United States. Ambassador Ibrahim noted that President Tinubu has directed him to intensify these partnerships, with a specific focus on collaborative efforts to permanently end nuclear weapons testing worldwide.
African Solidarity and the CTBT Anniversary
Aligning with the broader continental position, Ambassador Ibrahim endorsed the statement delivered by the African Group. He further congratulated member states on the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), reaffirming that Africa remains a designated nuclear-weapon-free zone—a status that has seen the continent categorically reject nuclear explosive testing.
“Nigeria neither possesses nuclear weapons nor has ever pursued a nuclear weapons programme,” Ibrahim stated emphatically, underscoring the nation’s dedication to a safer, nuclear-free world.
He urged all UN member states to sustain their momentum in the global campaign against nuclear testing, emphasizing that collective vigilance is essential to eliminating the existential threats posed by such arsenals.