Abu Refutes Claims of Secret Nuclear Program

Ahmadu Bello University Denies Allegations of Nuclear Weapon Development

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), located in Zaria, has officially denied claims circulating on social media that the institution was involved in the development of a nuclear weapon for Nigeria. The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, addressed these allegations in a statement released on Saturday.

The director described the video as misleading and aimed at spreading misinformation about Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear energy program. He emphasized that the content was an AI-generated fabrication, which falsely claimed that Nigerian scientists in the 1980s secretly enriched weapons-grade uranium in Kaduna and that ABU researchers acquired centrifugal equipment from the AQ Khan network in Pakistan.

Umar stated that the information presented in the video was baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated. He pointed out that most of the ABU scientists at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) were still undergoing training abroad during the 1980s and could not have been involved in uranium enrichment activities.

The director also clarified that ABU had no connection with the AQ Khan network and had never received any equipment for the construction of a centrifuge or nuclear device. He added that by 1987, the only nuclear facility at the university was a 14 MeV Neutron Generator, which became operational in 1988.

“Nigeria’s first nuclear reactor (NIRR-1) was established much later in 1996 under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and commissioned in 2004,” he said.

Umar reiterated that Nigeria’s nuclear activities have always been transparent and strictly for peaceful purposes, aligning with the country’s commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Pelindaba Treaty, which prohibit the development of nuclear weapons.

He reaffirmed that the Centre for Energy Research and Training, established in 1976, operates in collaboration with the IAEA and international partners from the U.S., Russia, and China. Umar further explained that the center has never engaged in any secret weapons program.

“ABU has always pursued peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology for national development,” he said. “ABU’s founder, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had demonstrated early interest in peaceful atomic research following his visit to the Museum of Atomic Energy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. in 1960, two years before ABU was established.”

The management of the university restated its commitment to advancing science and technology for the benefit of humanity and to upholding Nigeria’s international obligations on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Key Points About ABU’s Nuclear Activities

• No Connection to AQ Khan Network: ABU has no ties to the AQ Khan network and has never received any equipment related to centrifuges or nuclear devices.
• Peaceful Intentions: All nuclear activities at ABU have been conducted for peaceful purposes, in line with international treaties.
• Historical Context: The university’s involvement in nuclear research dates back to the 1970s, with the establishment of the Centre for Energy Research and Training.
• International Collaboration: The center works closely with the IAEA and partners from various countries, including the U.S., Russia, and China.
• Educational Focus: Most scientists at ABU were trained abroad during the 1980s, making it impossible for them to be involved in uranium enrichment.