By Harriet Tornguvan -Abuja
Nigeria has renewed its commitment to nuclear disarmament and urged the international community to take immediate steps toward negotiating a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT).
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, made the call at the inaugural Ministerial Meeting of the “Friends of an FMCT,” convened by Japan on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. He described the treaty as not only a legal necessity but also a moral obligation.
“Closing the fissile material gap is the most realistic way to prevent an uncontrolled arms race. The FMCT will rebuild trust, strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and restore momentum to global disarmament,” Badaru stated.
The Minister urged world leaders to move beyond rhetoric, especially as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. “The memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki compels us to act with courage. The survival of humanity demands it,” he said.
Nigeria also highlighted Africa’s leadership on nuclear restraint through the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established a nuclear-weapon-free zone across the continent. “Africa has shown that restraint is possible. Nigeria now calls for that same spirit to guide global action,” the Minister added.
To accelerate progress toward an FMCT, Badaru proposed three immediate measures:
A global moratorium on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons;
The dismantling or conversion of existing facilities for peaceful purposes; and
Leveraging these interim steps to build momentum toward a universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory treaty.
The Minister further linked Nigeria’s stance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing the connection between disarmament, security, and development. “Disarmament is not an abstract debate. Every step we take to reduce nuclear risks frees resources for health, education, and economic growth,” he noted.
Nigeria’s strong position at the UN signals a shift from participation to leadership in global disarmament efforts, positioning the country as a bridge-builder committed to aligning regional achievements with global action for a safer world.
