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President Bola Tinubu has urged the international community to ensure the total elimination of nuclear weapons, stressing that their continued existence threatens global peace and security.
Represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar at the UN headquarters in New York, Tinubu said the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons serves as a reminder of the world’s “shared responsibility and collective resolve to eradicate dangerous weapons.”
“Nigeria will continue to do its part to ensure total elimination of nuclear weapons is achieved,” he affirmed, noting that disarmament is the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use.
Tinubu warned of the “catastrophic humanitarian consequences” that could arise from intentional or accidental detonations and urged Nuclear-Weapon States to dismantle their arsenals. He also criticised their “resistance and lack of political will” to achieve disarmament, while calling for strict compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), built on its three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
He praised states that had ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), recalling Nigeria’s early role in the negotiations. He also reiterated Africa’s commitment under the Pelindaba Treaty, which declared the continent a nuclear-weapons-free zone.
Tinubu urged other regions to follow Africa’s example and emphasised the need for safe and peaceful nuclear energy use for development.
“Member States must demonstrate sincerity of purpose and commitment to the goal of the total elimination of nuclear weapons,” he concluded, insisting that a nuclear-free world is vital for humanity’s survival.
