Africa will not be used as nuclear testing ground – Shettima
- Says continent concerned about poverty, climate change, not nuclear weapons
By Obiabin Onukwugha
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has emphasized that Africa’s pressing concerns lie in tackling poverty and climate change, not in developing nuclear weapons capabilities.
Shettima made the submissions when the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Floyd paid him courtesy visit on Monday.
The CTBTO is a global body committed to prohibiting nuclear test explosions and strengthening international peace and security.
Shettima dismissed fears that Africa could be used for nuclear weapons testing, and emphasised that the continent’s focus is on sustainable development.
“We are fighting poverty; we are fighting a war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons,” the vice president stated.
He submitted that nuclear conflict offers no positive outcome, and the continent should channel its energy toward addressing development challenges rather than focusing on military capabilities.
He commended the CTBTO’s global network of 337 monitoring stations for its role in detecting nuclear activity, and monitoring seismic activities, including tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.
Businessinsider Africa reports that the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, Dr. Robert Floyd, praised the Nigeria’s role in the global non-proliferation effort, and its leadership and consistent technical contributions through the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).
