By Muhammad Mamman
Nigeria has restated its unwavering commitment to the global push for a world free of nuclear weapons, pledging continued support for international disarmament efforts.
Delivering Nigeria’s statement at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Chargé d’Affaires of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the UN, Syndoph Endoni, commended the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) for its steadfast work towards a nuclear-test-free world.
Speaking during the observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Mr Endoni said Nigeria remains resolute in championing nuclear disarmament, stressing that the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons necessitate urgent global action.
“Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering support for this agenda and stands in solidarity with the global pursuit of complete and irreversible nuclear disarmament. The abolition of nuclear weapons must be prioritised to safeguard human lives and protect the environment,” he said.
Mr Endoni highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding advocacy for a nuclear-weapons-free world, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). He also praised the CTBTO for significant progress in developing its monitoring and inspection regime, pledging Nigeria’s continued support for its full implementation.
He underscored Nigeria’s pride in championing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which the country ratified in 2020, and urged nuclear-armed states to accede without delay, noting the consistency between anti-testing and anti-possession frameworks.
“The African example of the Pelindaba Treaty, establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone across the continent, remains a model for other regions to emulate,” he added.
Calling for stronger collaboration ahead of the forthcoming Article XIV Conference, Mr Endoni urged member states, the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, and civil society to intensify efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.
“Let us draw inspiration from the momentum of the TPNW, uphold the three pillars of the Non-Proliferation Treaty—disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses—and renew our commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons,” he declared.
