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Nigeria
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
Signed: 20 September 2017
Ratified: 6 August 2020
Summary
Nigeria has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.
Signature and ratification
Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria, signed the treaty when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.
In an address to the United Nations earlier that week, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, said: “The crisis in the Korean peninsula underscores the urgency for all member states, guided by the spirit of enthroning a safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.”
Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria, signs the treaty in New York on 20 September 2017. Photo: ICAN
Nigeria’s instrument of ratification was deposited with the UN secretary-general on 6 August 2020, the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
In a video message to commemorate the bombing, the Nigerian diplomat Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, speaking in his capacity as the president of the UN General Assembly, called on “all member states to sign and ratify the treaty”.
Nigeria was the equal 41st state to ratify or accede to the treaty.
Nigeria’s federal executive council, chaired by the president, approves the ratification at a meeting in Abuja on 27 November 2019. Photo: NNN
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the treaty, Nigeria submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 20 February 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
Per Article 12, Nigeria has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring and consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.
In a statement to the United Nations in September 2020, Buhari urged states that have not yet done so “to quickly ratify the treaty for the actualisation of its important objective”.
Campaigners and government officials from West African states meet in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2019 to discuss universalisation of the treaty. Photo: Benjamin Alutoho
Treaty negotiations
Nigeria participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Nigeria described the initiation of the treaty-making process as “an epic accomplishment” after almost half a century “of minimal progress” in multilateral efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.
In its closing statement, Nigeria said: “States both big and small must be united in reminding one another of the overarching need to protect the ecosystem and demonstrate due diligence and consideration for others … Nigeria, and indeed the entire continent of Africa, shall remain a nuclear-free zone.”
Nigeria, Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, and South Africa comprised a “core group” of states that played a leading role in bringing the negotiations about and ensuring their ultimate success.
In 2016, Nigeria co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Nigerian delegates converse at the UN headquarters in New York in June 2017 during the second round of treaty negotiations. Photo: ICAN
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations, briefs the media on 7 July 2017 following the treaty’s adoption. Photo: ICAN
Before the negotiations
Nigeria was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the negotiations.
Nuclear-weapon-free state
Has joined the TPNW
[HIGHLIGHTS]
Signed: 20 September 2017
Ratified: 6 August 2020
Summary
Nigeria has signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. It was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021.
Signature and ratification
Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria, signed the treaty when it opened for signature on 20 September 2017.
In an address to the United Nations earlier that week, Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, said: “The crisis in the Korean peninsula underscores the urgency for all member states, guided by the spirit of enthroning a safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.”
Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria, signs the treaty in New York on 20 September 2017. Photo: ICAN
Nigeria’s instrument of ratification was deposited with the UN secretary-general on 6 August 2020, the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
In a video message to commemorate the bombing, the Nigerian diplomat Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, speaking in his capacity as the president of the UN General Assembly, called on “all member states to sign and ratify the treaty”.
Nigeria was the equal 41st state to ratify or accede to the treaty.
Nigeria’s federal executive council, chaired by the president, approves the ratification at a meeting in Abuja on 27 November 2019. Photo: NNN
Implementation
In accordance with Article 2 of the treaty, Nigeria submitted a declaration to the UN secretary-general on 20 February 2021 confirming that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory.
Per Article 12, Nigeria has promoted universal adherence to the treaty, including by co-sponsoring and consistently voting in favour of an annual UN General Assembly resolution since 2018 that calls upon all states to sign, ratify, or accede to the treaty “at the earliest possible date”.
In a statement to the United Nations in September 2020, Buhari urged states that have not yet done so “to quickly ratify the treaty for the actualisation of its important objective”.
Campaigners and government officials from West African states meet in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2019 to discuss universalisation of the treaty. Photo: Benjamin Alutoho
Treaty negotiations
Nigeria participated in the negotiation of the treaty at the United Nations in New York in 2017 and was among 122 states that voted in favour of its adoption.
In its opening statement to the negotiating conference, Nigeria described the initiation of the treaty-making process as “an epic accomplishment” after almost half a century “of minimal progress” in multilateral efforts to achieve nuclear disarmament.
In its closing statement, Nigeria said: “States both big and small must be united in reminding one another of the overarching need to protect the ecosystem and demonstrate due diligence and consideration for others … Nigeria, and indeed the entire continent of Africa, shall remain a nuclear-free zone.”
Nigeria, Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, and South Africa comprised a “core group” of states that played a leading role in bringing the negotiations about and ensuring their ultimate success.
In 2016, Nigeria co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution that established the formal mandate for states to commence negotiations on “a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
Nigerian delegates converse at the UN headquarters in New York in June 2017 during the second round of treaty negotiations. Photo: ICAN
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the Nigerian ambassador to the United Nations, briefs the media on 7 July 2017 following the treaty’s adoption. Photo: ICAN
Before the negotiations
Nigeria was among 127 states that endorsed a “humanitarian pledge” in 2015–16 to cooperate “in efforts to stigmatise, prohibit, and eliminate nuclear weapons”. The pledge was instrumental in building momentum and support for convening the negotiations.
[PARTNERS]
Achievers University Owo
Christian Council of Nigeria
Cultural Youth Initiative Movement of Nigeria
Global Network for Human Development Nigeria
IANSA Women Network-Nigeria
Kairos Nigeria
Lastborn Humanity and Development Foundation
Poverty and Associated Maladies Alleviation Initiative (PAMAI)
Smiles Africa International
Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind
Social Welfare Network Initiative
Women's Right to Education Programme
[LOCALSUPPORT]
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Achievers University Owo
-
Christian Council of Nigeria
-
Cultural Youth Initiative Movement of Nigeria
-
Global Network for Human Development Nigeria
-
IANSA Women Network-Nigeria
-
Kairos Nigeria
-
Lastborn Humanity and Development Foundation
-
Poverty and Associated Maladies Alleviation Initiative (PAMAI)
-
Smiles Africa International
-
Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind
-
Social Welfare Network Initiative
-
Women's Right to Education Programme