Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: James Zawacki
The Disarmament and International Security Committee
No First Use Polices and Nuclear Disarmament
Federal Republic of Nigeria
James Zawacki
Forest Hills Eastern High School
Nuclear weapons and atomic weapons are indiscriminate and have the opportunity to cause unmatched suffering and Devastation to other nations and populations, regardless of whether they are at the target or not. Furthermore, only a select few states possess these destructive powers, leading others to feel threatened by the prospect of destruction if caught in the crossfire. It’s the smaller developing countries that face entering the growing world; it will be impossible to maintain mutually assured destruction with new emerging conflicts day by day. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is deeply concerned with the threat of such arms, as it is committed to supporting world peace/security, and economic development. The United Nations has taken action to create new resolutions and treaties, but has ultimately fallen short, as many states holding on to such arms have not ratified them. The United Nations has seen some success in treaties such as the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty and the Partial Test Ban Treaty. But to truly reach a no-first-use policy and nuclear disarmament, the UN will have to get large countries in possession of arms on board.
Nigeria recognizes the need for action to be taken on the conflict of nuclear disarmament and the development of no-first-use policies in order to prevent unethical and heated tensions. Nigeria has strived towards disarmament in the past through the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons. Nigeria was among the original 50 states parties to the treaty when it entered into force on 22 January 2021. Furthermore, Nigeria has shown its support by playing a key role in the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty CTBT. Nigeria is also recognized for being a participating member of initiatives like the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), which is known for prohibiting the research, development, manufacturing, stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession, or control of nuclear weapons. Nigeria does not implicitly support “no first use” but instead opts for the total elimination of nuclear arms, with many leaders calling for the elimination due to strong humanitarian ties, as the impact is the largest on such groups. Nigeria urges all states, especially those with nuclear arms and weapons, to take measures or movement towards disarmament and to promote less availability.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria urges the United Nations to take action to reduce or eliminate the use, stockpiling, and production of nuclear arms. Some major room for improvement comes specifically from production. Nigeria proposes that more regulations and moderation be put on the global production of materials used in weapons, as well as converting nuclear facilities to have more peaceful uses. Nigeria supports the total elimination of nuclear arms over the implementation of the No First Use policy, as even regulated arms still pose a threat and raise tensions.
