Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Biological Weapons Convention by refraining from developing, producing, acquiring, or retaining biological weapons.
Gatekeepers News reports that this commitment aligns with global efforts to address the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume made this disclosure at the Stakeholders Forum on Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention in Nigeria.
The event was organized by the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions (NAC&BWC) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Abuja.
Represented by Senior Technical Assistant Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, Akume emphasised Nigeria’s commitment as a signatory to the Convention since July 10, 1972.
The Convention mandates states to abstain from developing, producing, acquiring, or retaining biological weapons. To fulfill this commitment, the Federal Government established an Inter-Ministerial Council (IMC) comprising over 42 members from various Ministries, Departments, Agencies, private sectors, and academia.
The IMC provides policy guidance and direction on implementing the Convention through collaboration.
Daniel Feakes, Chief of the Biological Weapon Convention Implementation Support Unit in Geneva, praised the Federal Government’s commitment to the Convention’s comprehensive implementation.
This commitment has contributed to reducing the proliferation of small arms and dangerous weapons that pose threats to citizens.
In her goodwill message, Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra, Director-General/CEO of the National Bio-safety Management Agency (NBMA), expressed gratitude to the Secretary for his support and assured the Agency’s commitment to ensuring national bio-security.
