The Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear –Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), Dr. Robert Flyod, has expressed concerns over talk about actual nuclear warfare some of the world’s nuclear powers.
Flyod stated this yesterday when he delivered a lecture titled “Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as a Model of Multilateral Success: What It Means for Africa, Today and Tomorrow,” at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
He said that talk about nuclear warfare was not heard some decades ago when nuclear weapon was acquired for deterrent purpose.
He said: “The concern that I have in recent years is that we have actually heard the threat of possible use of nuclear weapons while prior to this time it was all about deterrence: that a country would hold a nuclear weapon to deter the military attack of another.
“But we have heard open comments, which suggest possible use (of nuclear weapons) and that is very concerning. This is dangerous language that we should not be hearing from anyone. It is not helpful for global peace and security.
“The risk is that wherever nuclear weapons exist the possessor of those weapons might end up using them.
“It is not a more stable world with more countries having nuclear weapons but a less stable world and I am glad that Africa stands as one against nuclear weapon in its continent and in this world.
“And I really want to keep hearing those voices from Africa amplified for all countries in the world to hear.”
Flyod said that the number of African states that have signed the CNTB is 52 out of 54, which is a strong message that nuclear non-proliferation is important to Africa.
“So, for today and tomorrow it will be in Africa’s interest to see ultimately the elimination of nuclear weapons. And one step to getting to that point is the ban for testing and backing it up with information system.”
He, however, clarified that Africa should not be left behind but should have access to nuclear technology for positive uses in the form of power generation etc.
Flyod said that there were over 2000 nuclear tests before the treaty banning its test came into being in September 1996.
Since then the number tests were only 10.
Flyod said: “Why it is so successful is because every country in the world knows that if it tests a nuclear device you cannot do it in the bright noon day and you can never do it under the cover of darkness because the international monitoring system will get on you.
“The international monitoring system has over 300 stations and about 38 of them are established in Africa.
“In addition, AI is going to help analysts find explosion that are even very low in magnitude. So machine learning and AI is our friend.”
Another reason, according to him, is the fact that a ban on nuclear weapons is really good for every country whether it is a country that has nuclear weapons or one that does not have them.
He said: “It is actually in every state’s best interest because a world where there are more and more holders of nuclear weapon is not a better world,” adding that the presence of nuclear weapon anywhere is a reminder that it might be used and that the more the countries that have control over them the more likely that it means that it could be used. When that starts it might be very difficult to stop.
He, however, emphasised that compliance to the objectives and purpose of the treaty is more important than enforcement in realising its goals.
“Be careful that you do not put too much confidence into international laws because a country will choose what it will do even in the face of contravening international laws.
“So, the most important thing when it comes to enforcement is compliance. I will want to see every state complying with their obligations to the treaty. The most powerful compliance that you can ever find is not to test development of nuclear weapons. It is where the power comes,” Flyod said.
He also made it clear that the United States of America, Russia Federation, China, France and the United Kingdom have signed the CBNT.
“Every one of them is committed to the objective of this treaty. Whether they have ratified or not in this case does not diminish their commitment to the objectives and purpose of the treaty,” he said.
According to the Director General of NIIA, Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae, said that Nigeria support the ban on nuclear test in every way but that “does not mean that Nigeria is not interested in nuclear technology acquisition for its many other uses that are strategic for our national interests.”
Speaking on the same vein, the Director of Research at NIIA, Professor Joshua Bolanrinwa, said that African nations in 1996 under the Organisation of African Unity in South Africa signed a treaty to make Africa a nuclear free zone, to the extent that African states will neither support research on nuclear weapons nor allow its warehousing in the continent.
