Buhari raises concerns over slow pace of nuclear weapons’ elimination

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Friday raised concerns over what he called slow pace by United Nations member states in eliminating the nuclear weapons in their possession.

He warned that trafficking in nuclear materials remains a potential threat to international peace and security.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke in his video-message to the UN High-level meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The statement was titled “Trafficking in nuclear materials potential threat to international peace, security, President Buhari warns at UN Summit.”

Buhari was quoted as restating Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

While expressing concern about the slow pace of states possessing nuclear weapons in disarming and decommissioning their existing nuclear facilities, the President said, “We are concerned about the slow pace of progress by nuclear-weapon states to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, in accordance with their legal obligations and undertakings under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

Reiterating the need for the UN to continue engaging nuclear weapon states to speed up their efforts in disarming and decommissioning their existing nuclear facilities, Buhari added, “The best approach to avoid damage associated with nuclear materials such as humanitarian crisis, accidents, disasters and criminality is the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”

He said the universalisation of the NPT was dependent upon strict compliance with its three pillars namely, disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

He, therefore, enjoined other member states to ratify the treaty, noting that Nigeria had played a major role in negotiations leading to the coming into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty).

Buhari added, “We will continue to galvanise other African States to abide by the tenets of the Pelindaba Treaty. This is to ensure that the entire continent remains nuclear-free.

“While there are no easy solutions when we confront one of the gravest existential threats to the survival of the human race, we must remain undeterred and committed to a world of safety and security, one without the volatility posed by nuclear weapons.”

The President said it was noteworthy that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the use of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that terminated the lives of thousands of people with severe long-term damages to the environment.

He said, “The anniversary is a forceful reminder of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons which undermine global, national and human security.

“Hence, there is need for all states to comply with applicable international laws and conventions to ensure a world free of nuclear weapons.

“We must, therefore, redouble our efforts to implement the provisions of the Nuclear NPT being the basis of Non-Proliferation Regime.

“This is to enable us achieve our desire for total elimination of nuclear weapons.”

The President recounted that as one of the countries in the vanguard of the campaign for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, Nigeria signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on September 20, 2017 and recently ratified it on August 6, 2020.

He noted that Nigeria joined like-minded states to sponsor the resolution titled “Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations” which led to the legally binding Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

“Nigeria has been involved in the promotion of peaceful application of nuclear science and technology at national and international levels.

“Accordingly, Nigeria ratified several international treaties and conventions in the area of nuclear safety and security.

“We have also expressed political commitment to the IAEA Code of Conduct on safety and security of radioactive sources.

“More so, we have developed and approved the first International Atomic Energy Agency Integrated Nuclear Security Plan for the period 2010-2012 with further review to cover 2019-2021 period.

“In this connection, Nigeria commends the continued efforts of the IAEA, particularly its role in monitoring and inspecting nuclear facilities. We urge States to ensure compliance with IAEA safeguards and standards at all times as well as nuclear verification disarmament measures,” he added.

The President added that in order to facilitate the development and peaceful deployment of nuclear technology, Nigeria regulates and implements its energy aspiration through the relevant agencies.

“In addition, we are reforming the National Nuclear Security Sector to make it robust and reliable.

“These reforms involve the domestication of The International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism; Review of Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act; and Review of Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act.

“To further demonstrate our commitment to nuclear security, Nigeria successfully converted the Nigeria Research Reactor (NIRR-1), a 31 kilowatts miniature neutron source reactor from highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium fuel.

“Also in 2019, the administration set up Nigeria’s Nuclear Security Support Centre and developed a Nuclear Security Detection Architecture to serve as a sustainable safeguard for maintaining nuclear security and detection of radioactive materials out of regulatory control,” he said.