The Federal Government on Wednesday re-affirmed its commitment to implement the tenets of the Biological Weapons Convention by not developing, producing, acquiring or retaining biological weapons in line with the international community’s efforts to address the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
The assurance was given by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, at the Stakeholders Forum on Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention In Nigeria.
It was organised by the National Authority on Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions (NAC&BWC) in the Office Of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) In collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Abuja.
Represented at the event by the Senior Technical Assistant to the SGF, Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, Senator Akume, said that Nigeria, being a signatory to the Biological Weapons Convention on 10 July, 1972 is committed to abide by the Biological Weapons Convention which stipulates that no states parties should develop, produce, acquire or retain biological weapons.
In furtherance to its commitment to implement the dictates of the Convention, he stated that the Federal Government through the National Authority on Chemical & Biological Weapons Convention (NAC&BWC) has set up an Inter-Ministerial Council (IMC) which comprised over 42 members drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Organised Private Sectors and the Academia.
According to a statement by the Director, Information & Public Relations at the OSGF, Segun Imohiosen, the SGF said that the IMC is charged with the responsibility "for providing requisite policy guidance and direction on issues relating to Biological Weapon Convention implementation through collaboration and cross-fertilisation of ideas."
Speaking earlier, Chief of the Biological Weapon Convention Implementation Support Unit in Geneva, Mr Daniel Feakes, expressed satisfaction on the commitment of the Federal Government in the comprehensive implementation of the Biological Weapon Convention which has helped in reducing the proliferation of small arms and other dangerous weapons that may pose threats to citizens.
In her goodwill message, the Director-General/CEO of National Bio-safety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Agnes Yemisi Asagbra thanked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for his immense support to the Agency in the discharge of its statutory obligations.
She assured of NBMA's poise to ensure the bio-security of the nation.