Africans push for more action on nuclear weapons at UN
From Oghogho Obayuwana, New York
THE African Group on the Security Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) led by Nigeria has demanded the ratification by member states of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as a way of advancing the global war against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Concerns were raised by the African Group as well as Nigeria on the fact that while resources for development assistance continue to plummet, military expenditure is escalating.
There were also worries that world military expenditure which stood at $780 billion at the beginning of this decade has now risen to $1.464 trillion, a four per cent increase in real terms since 2007 and representing a 45 per cent increase since 1999.
Nigeria's demand for the CTBT ratification came shortly before a formal launch by the country's candidacy for the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, was made last night starting with a briefing of delegates, and ambassadors of small nations in New York.
In separate presentations first on behalf of the African group by the minister and Nigeria's Lawrence Olufemi Obisakin, the African group formally announced the entry into force, the African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone treaty also known as the treaty of Pelindaba, while also reiterating its support for the concept of internationally recognized nuclear-weapon-free zones set up on the basis of arrangements freely arrived at among states of the regions concerned.
The minister told the committee: "The African group calls on all states to take appropriate measures to prevent any dumping of nuclear, chemical and radioactive wastes that would infringe on the integrity of states. The group also calls for the effective implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency Code of Practice on the international Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste as means of enhancing the protection of all states from dumping of radioactive wastes on their territories."
The African Group also opposed the continuous militarisation of Africa and the Niger Delta in Nigeria. The group said: "We wish to express concern at the illicit transfer, manufacture and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW)... the framework of the third Biennial Meeting of States (BMS) on national and regional implementation of the programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in SALW should be pursued with vigour."
Speaking strictly for Nigeria, Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Bukun-Olu Onemola reaffirmed the belief of the Nigerian delegation in multilateralism as the core principle for addressing issues of disarmament and international security.
Nigeria, he noted, "will continue to work with other nations in promoting disarmament and non-proliferation in all their aspects... we maintain that the call for non-proliferation must be complemented by concrete action in the area of nuclear disarmament as a most effective way of ensuring that weapons do not fall into the hands of non-state actors. It is in this regard that all member states should intensify their commitment towards the ratification of CTBT in particular through adherence by the remaining Annex 11 states whose ratification is also mandatory for the treaty to enter into force."
