Nigeria reaffirms commitment to peaceful use of nuclear energy

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the application of nuclear technology to support national development.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, stated this on Thursday in Abuja when he received the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Anthony Ekedegwa, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the meeting reviewed Nigeria’s participation in global nuclear governance and explored ways of strengthening collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the commission.

Tuggar noted the “strategic importance of atomic energy and nuclear technology in contemporary international relations, stressing that nuclear issues remain central to global discussions on energy security, technological advancement, and international peace and security”.

He explained that although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the supervisory authority of the commission, it plays a vital role in facilitating Nigeria’s engagement with international organisations and multilateral frameworks relating to nuclear governance.

The minister emphasised “the need for sustained institutional collaboration between the ministry and the commission to strengthen Nigeria’s voice in international nuclear diplomacy, particularly within the United Nations system and other multilateral institutions”.

He also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding position in support of the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology to advance socio-economic development.

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Earlier, Ekedegwa thanked the minister for granting the audience and briefed him on the activities and priorities of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

He highlighted the importance of Nigeria’s continued engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other relevant international bodies, particularly in the areas of technical cooperation, capacity development, and the application of nuclear technology in healthcare, agriculture, water resource management, and industrial development.

The discussions also highlighted Nigeria’s long-term interest in developing nuclear power infrastructure as part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and support sustainable economic growth.

Both sides stressed the importance of coordinated diplomatic and technical engagement in advancing Nigeria’s nuclear energy aspirations in line with international safety standards and global non-proliferation commitments.