Nigeria Has No Nuclear Weapons, Weapons of Mass Destruction — Ibrahim Tells UN

Nigeria does not possess nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction and has never pursued a nuclear weapons programme, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has told the UN General Assembly.

Ibrahim made the declaration while addressing the 108th Plenary Meeting of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global efforts to eliminate nuclear-weapon testing.

The Nigerian envoy, who also chairs the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, called for a review of Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, arguing that the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states should not prevent the international community from taking action against countries that conduct nuclear-weapon tests or possess weapons of mass destruction.

Representing the position of President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim said Nigeria maintains institutions and regulatory mechanisms to monitor and address issues relating to nuclear activities and weapons of mass destruction.

He identified the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission as one of the institutions responsible for overseeing the country’s nuclear-related activities and regulatory framework.

According to him, Nigeria also maintains international partnerships with countries including Russia, China, France, South Korea and the United States as part of its commitment to the peaceful and responsible development of nuclear technology.

Ibrahim said Tinubu had directed him to reaffirm Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen international partnerships aimed at eliminating nuclear-weapon testing.