President Says Nigeria’s Security Does Not Depend on Nuclear Weapons, Backs Total Nuclear Disarmament
President Bola Tinubu has urged the United Nations Security Council to strengthen efforts to enforce the principles of the UN Charter by imposing sanctions against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and advancing the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
President Tinubu’s position was conveyed by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, at a high-level UN General Assembly meeting in New York marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Ibrahim said Nigeria does not support the production or proliferation of nuclear weapons and stressed that total nuclear disarmament remains the UN’s highest disarmament priority.
He said Nigeria’s national security does not depend on nuclear weapons, noting that the country is not among the states possessing the 12,187 nuclear warheads held globally.
The envoy called on countries to respect the UN Charter’s provisions on disarmament and the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of states.
Ibrahim said adherence to the Charter would strengthen international peace and reduce the incentive for the production and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
He also conveyed President Tinubu’s commendation to African leaders for efforts to keep the continent free from nuclear weapons testing and the production of weapons of mass destruction.
The ambassador recalled the devastating loss of lives from the atomic bombings during the Second World War, stressing the need for stronger international commitment to peace and stability.
The UN meeting was held to raise awareness of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and mobilise global efforts towards achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world.