President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, describing their continued existence as an “existential threat” that undermines international peace and human security. The appeal formed a key part of Nigeria’s statement during a high-level United Nations event marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Speaking through Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Mr. Tinubu said the total abolition of nuclear arsenals remains “the only absolute guarantee” against their use or the threat of use, and urged the international community to move from words to concrete dismantling steps.
Tinubu warned of the “catastrophic humanitarian consequences” that would follow either an intentional detonation or an accidental explosion, and he pressed Nuclear-Weapon States to show political will by implementing agreed disarmament measures and accession to relevant treaties.
The president’s appeal also came as part of a broader Nigeria message to the UN — delivered this session amid calls for sweeping multilateral reforms — in which he emphasized Africa’s stake in global security debates and urged that world institutions respond to contemporary threats with urgency.
Nigeria has a history of championing a nuclear-weapons-free world and has publicly supported instruments such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; Tinubu’s statement reaffirms that longstanding policy and positions Nigeria as a voice for disarmament among non-nuclear states.
The call for elimination echoes concerns raised by UN officials about growing arsenals and nuclear risks, and it adds to international pressure on nuclear-armed countries to resume meaningful negotiations on arms reduction and verification measures. Observers say Tinubu’s intervention — coming during high-level UN meetings — aims to keep disarmament on the global agenda while Nigeria pushes simultaneously for broader UN reforms.
