The
Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to
the global fight against the threat of nuclear terrorism, but said that
Nigeria, under his leadership, will continue to pursue efforts to harness
nuclear energy and technology for socio-economic development.
In
his statement to the third Global Security Summit which opened at The Hague in
the Netherlands on Monday, President Jonathan upheld the view that
international and regional cooperation efforts should be based on the principle
of maintaining a balance between nuclear non-proliferation obligations and the
inalienable right of States to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy for
development purposes.
“While
this is important, we would also like to draw attention to the need to maintain
the highest standards of nuclear safety and security in establishing peaceful
nuclear facilities,” the President said.
He
told the gathering that in keeping with Nigeria’s commitment to the
non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of nuclear
technology, the Federal Government had submitted an executive bill to the
National Assembly to accommodate the country’s obligations under international
treaties on nuclear safety and security.
“Nigeria
accords high priority to all global efforts towards ending the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, including nuclear
weapons. To this end, Nigeria has since the last Summit in Seoul, strengthened
the legal framework for fighting terrorism through the adoption in 2013, of an
amendment to its Terrorism (Prevention) Act, thus ensuring the implementation
of more robust counter-terrorism measures.
“Nigeria’s
ratification of some international treaties and conventions in the realm of
nuclear safety, security and safeguards has necessitated the review of the
Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act resulting in the recent decision of
the Government to submit a new Bill to Parliament for consideration and passage
into law in order to accommodate our obligations under these instruments.
“The
instruments include the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear
Materials and its amended version of 2005, the International Convention for the
Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The intention of the bill is to
ensure the fulfilment of Nigeria’s international and national Nuclear Safety,
Security, Safeguards and radiation protection obligations, by domesticating the
international treaties. The bill is presently awaiting passage by the National
Assembly.
“Furthermore,
as part of the outcome of the second Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul,
South Korea in 2010, States Parties were urged on voluntary basis, to embark on
the process of converting their reactors from the use of Highly Enriched
Uranium to Lowly Enriched Uranium. Consequently, Nigeria is working in
collaboration with the United States of America and China for the conversion of
Nigeria’s limited stock of Highly Enriched Uranium used in its research reactor
to Lowly Enriched Uranium,” President Jonathan said.
The
Nigerian President stressed that the main objectives of the Nuclear Security
Summit was to reduce the amount of dangerous nuclear materials in the world by
preventing materials that could be used to produce nuclear weapons from falling
into the hands of terrorists and unauthorised non-state actors.
He
reiterated Nigeria’s support for the immediate commencement and early
conclusion of negotiations on a “non-discriminatory, multi-lateral and
internationally and effectively verifiable treaty banning the production of
fissile materials for nuclear weapons”.
President
Jonathan also commended the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki Moon
for establishing a Group of Governmental Experts which will begin work in
Geneva next week on the proposal.
“Nigeria
shares the view that fewer nuclear weapons translate into more nuclear security
while at the same time reducing the risk of proliferation.
“But
it is even more important that States, as represented at this Summit,
demonstrate the necessary political will to embark on the path towards the
ultimate goal of total and complete nuclear disarmament under strict and
effective international control,” Jonathan concluded.
He
thanked the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte, for hosting the
summit and commended President Barack Obama, who was present at the opening
ceremony, “for his continued leadership of this important project”.
Other
world leaders participating in the summit include President Xi Jinping of
China, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of
Germany, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of
Japan, the President of South Korea, Ms Park Geun-hye and the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon.
(From the Federal Ministry of Information)
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