Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has pledged the support of the Nigerian government towards the global efforts on elimination of Nuclear Weapons, stressing that Nigeria supports the International call for nuclear disarmament.
Onyeama made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening of the two-day Regional Workshop on Expanding Access to Peaceful Uses under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Framework.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was in preparatory to the NPT at 50 Review Conference, which would hold in New York in 2020 and the reflections.
The meeting will also focus on the reflections by Argentina in the 2020 NPT Review Conference.
Onyeama, who was represented by Amb. Mustapha Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Nigeria was deeply committed to the core principle of fostering the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Onyeama said that the principle of use of nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes was anchored on the third pillar of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
According to him, Nigeria is committed to strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguard systems.
“Our role is to work hand in hand with the States and the signatories to the Treaty wherever and whenever possible, to bridge the differences that may arise.
“To return to a common vision and to tread the path leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons and further progress on the Nuclear disarmament verification is essential to attain and sustain a world without nuclear weapons.
“Nigeria is equally committed to the further successful implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran.
“This demonstrates concretely that diplomacy can successfully advance the NPT objectives when supported by a broad consensus.
“Nigeria welcomes the IAEA’s continued activities to monitor and verify Iran’s implementation of its JCPAO commitments.
“It is, of course, critical to ensure that nuclear weapons are used in ways that benefit mankind and in accordance with global best practices.
“This calls for action to mitigate potential negative consequences of nuclear weapons,” Onyeama said.
Onyeama said that the theme of the forum was timely as the world was witnessing a steady deterioration of the international security environment.
He said that now was a moment of historic transition and countries owe it to themselves to reflect on the fifty years of the treaty, urging countries to strive for more cooperation in arms control and less weaponry.
In her remarks, Mrs Luz Melon, Deputy Representative of Argentina to the IAEA, said that workshop creates a platform and opportunities to exchange perspectives, information and ideas on how to bring the norm of the NPT to the greater benefits of our societies.
Melon said that the review Conference was also coming at a time of growing concerns and uncertainties, national and regional expectations on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
“As we near the time, the whole of the international communities will come together to assess the implementation of the treaty for the past five years and to agree on a way forward for the next five to fifty years.
“Hopefully, we will be thinking of medium-term and peaceful cooperation in the future.
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“The review conference is in the hands of the parties, we can only offer very modestly leadership and we can only facilitate opportunities so that the agreements can be reached.
“And decisions can be made that will bring us forward for another fifty years of nuclear cooperation for peaceful uses and to strengthen each of the pillars and aspects of the treaty.
“The challenges in the international context cannot be ignored, at the same time, they make it imperative for the conference to find a solid ground for progress in all matters covering the treaty
“Following the debates, we had in the last months in Vienna and Geneva, and New York, the president-designate was convinced we need to get into a dialogue, into a consensus-building mind frame.
“To ensure a result in 2020 that is sustainable, that is transparent and it is a forward-looking basis to renew our commitments to the NPT.
Let me also underscore the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in facilitating access to and ensuring that the nuclear materials remain in peaceful uses with the assistance of all of us,” Melon said.
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