Nigeria has stepped up its global advocacy for nuclear disarmament, urging world leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York to immediately halt the production of fissile materials used in nuclear weapons. Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru warned that the survival of humanity hinges on bold action to close the fissile material gap and fast-track a universal treaty.
Badaru made the call at the first Ministerial Meeting of the “Friends of an FMCT” convened by Japan on the sidelines of the UNGA. He described the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) as both a legal necessity and a moral duty, cautioning that unchecked production could fuel an uncontrollable arms race.
“Closing the fissile material gap is the most realistic way to stop an uncontrolled arms race,” the Minister said. “The FMCT will rebuild trust, strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty and give momentum back to disarmament.”
Marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, Badaru urged the international community to act with courage. “The memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki compels us to act with courage. The survival of humanity demands it,” he added.
Nigeria also spotlighted Africa’s leadership in nuclear restraint through the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established the continent as a nuclear-weapon-free zone. “Africa has shown that restraint is possible. Nigeria now calls for that same spirit to guide global action,” Badaru said.
To fast-track negotiations on the FMCT, the Defence Minister proposed three key steps:
A global moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons;
The dismantling or conversion of existing facilities to peaceful uses;
Using interim measures to build political momentum toward a universal, verifiable and non-discriminatory treaty.
He further tied Nigeria’s disarmament push to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that disarmament directly connects to development. “Every step we take to reduce nuclear risks frees resources for health, education and economic growth,” he said.
By making this bold call, Nigeria is shifting from a participant to a leader in global disarmament conversations positioning itself as a bridge-builder between regional achievements and international policy for a safer world.