The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has emphasised the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons tests to enhance understanding.
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral agreement which opened for signature in September 1996 and has since been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178 to prohibit any nuclear weapon’s test anywhere in the world by anyone.
The Executive Secretary of CTBTO, Dr Robert Floyd, during a recent regional workshop for African States Signatories held in Banjul, The Gambia.
Floyd said, “The countries of the world agree it will be best we live in a world without nuclear weapons, and to have an effective ban on nuclear testing is one step towards this goal.”
He commended African states for their commitment to the CTBT, stating that the organisation will work closely with the remaining countries to facilitate their signature and ratification.
He added that the CTBTO will provide more information to support these countries to benefit from the treaty’s membership.
“It is clear there is a strong view that nuclear tests should not take place again and I believe the reason is because of the history of nuclear testing that has taken place in the African continent.
“This is due to the damage it has caused to the environment and human health and the determination of the African states is to ensure that this never happens again.
“We are very happy to work collectively with African nations to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear testing and fully achieve these goals.
“In 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty opened for signature. Before that date, there were over 2,000 nuclear tests.
“Since then, nearly 28 years later, fewer than 12 nuclear tests have taken place, with only one state, North Korea, conducting any in this century.”
He also explained the science behind this: the CTBTO’s verification regime, which monitors the planet 24 hours a day to ensure no test goes undetected.
As a result, he added, “we are living in a safer and more secure world.”
In terms of building capacity, Floyd highlighted that countries like Nigeria should have National Data Centres (NDC) to access data gathered by stations and laboratories worldwide.
“All data that comes into Vienna is shared freely with all member states, including Nigeria. We will work with Nigeria to train the technical staff on how to receive, analyse and interpret this data.
“This data also has numerous civil and scientific applications such as detecting earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions and it can also be used for climate change research.
“So, this is where the capacity building comes into play, people across each of our member states have the opportunity to be trained in these skills.
“It is remarkable that 50 out of the 54 states in Africa have ratified the treaty but 52 of the 54 states have signed it.
“I see Africa coming together as one, supporting one another and working together with the international community for a world without nuclear weapon tests and nuclear weapons as a shared future,” he said.
