Tinubu Urges UN to Sanction WMD Proliferators and Push for Nuclear Disarmament
President Bola Tinubu, through Nigeria’s UN Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, urged the UN Security Council to enforce the UN Charter by imposing sanctions on weapons of mass destruction proliferation and advancing total nuclear disarmament. Speaking at a UN General Assembly plenary meeting in New York marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Ibrahim said Nigeria does not possess or support nuclear weapons, noting the country is not among the states holding the 12,187 nuclear warheads worldwide. He described those who develop or back WMD as enemies of democracy and stressed respect for UN Charter Articles 6 on disarmament and 2(4) prohibiting force against a state’s territorial integrity or political independence.
This stance highlights Nigeria’s commitment to global peace and its effort to shape international security norms. By calling for sanctions against WMD proliferators, Tinubu aims to strengthen collective security and reduce incentives for nuclear arms buildup. The message also commends African allies for keeping the continent free from nuclear testing and recalls the devastating human toll of the WWII atomic bombings, framing disarmament as both a moral and strategic imperative.
With Nigeria pushing for a nuclear‑weapon‑free world, how should the country balance its advocacy for disarmament with its own security needs, and what concrete steps can it take to influence UN policy on sanctions and arms control?