The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the Treaty of Pelindaba, emphasizing that establishing Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone is a crucial gift to both current and future generations.
Minister Badaru made this statement during a high-level meeting for the Launching of Friends of the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
At the meeting, Nigeria joined other like-minded countries to launch a campaign advocating for a treaty that prohibits the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons and other explosive devices. This initiative aims to limit the quantitative enhancement of nuclear arsenals.
The Minister reiterated that Nigeria, along with the entire African continent, remains steadfast in its commitment to the Treaty of Pelindaba, thereby declaring Africa a nuclear-weapon-free zone.
Badaru underscored Nigeria’s leading role in advocating for nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, stating that Nigeria will continue to actively participate in initiatives aimed at strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime as well as the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
Badaru highlighted that bolstering the NPT and FMCT would enhance transparency and cooperation between nuclear and non-nuclear states, contributing to the development of peaceful nuclear energy.
He called for widespread support across the African continent for the FMCT initiative and expressed appreciation to all friends of the FMCT and civil society organizations for their dedication and hard work towards achieving this vital objective.
He reiterated that the NPT remains the cornerstone of global nuclear disarmament and noted that the adoption of the FMCT would further strengthen the NPT framework. The Minister urged all stakeholders to support this noble endeavour, emphasizing the critical need for collective action in the pursuit of a safer and more secure world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
