President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday called for the total
elimination of nuclear weapons, warning that trafficking in nuclear materials
remains a potential threat to international peace and security.
In a video message to the UN High-level meeting to
commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of
Nuclear Weapons, President Buhari restated Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful
use of nuclear energy.
He, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of
disarming and decommissioning of existing nuclear facilities by states.
”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 (NPT),” President Buhari said.
Reiterating the need for the United Nations to continue
engaging the Nuclear Weapon States to speed up their efforts in disarming and
decommissioning their existing nuclear facilities, the Nigerian leader said:
”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.”
President Buhari told world leaders at the virtual summit
that the universalization 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 the 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).
”We will continue to galvanize the 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,” he said.
The Nigerian 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.
”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 the total
elimination of nuclear weapons,’’ he said.
President Buhari used the occasion to highlight how Nigeria
had demonstrated support for multilateral efforts towards the 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 20th September 2017
and recently ratified it on 6th August 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 the 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 (IAEA) 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 said.
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.
President Buhari also reminded the Summit that the 1996
Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice affirms that the threat
or use of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity and a violation
of international law, including international humanitarian law.
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