In the Nigerian Statement, the President highlighted the efforts and achievements of Nigeria in the area of nuclear safety and security in terms of the legislative, regulatory and physical infrastructure emplaced. He reminded the Summit of the need to pay adequate attention to an equally debilitating Weapons of Mass Destabilization (WMD): the small and light weapons which are proliferated in Africa but mainly produced by the industrialized countries. In conclusion, the President solicited the support of President Obama for the United States to sign up the 1-2-3 Agreement with Nigeria, which allows access to American nuclear technology for non-military purposes.
President Barack Obama, in his opening remarks argued that while superpower nuclear confrontation was far more remote, the risk of nuclear terrorism had never been greater. According to him, the summit provided “an opportunity … not simply to talk, but to act. Not simply to make pledges, but to make real progress on the security of our people. All this, in turn, requires something else, which is something more fundamental. It will require a new mindset … that we summon the will, as nations and as partners, to do what this moment in history demands.” He therefore reminded the Summit of the warning of Albert Einstein soon after the beginning of the nuclear age: “Now everything has changed … We are drifting towards a catastrophe beyond comparison. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” President Obama concluded by reminding all that “the problems of the 21st century cannot be solved by any one nation acting in isolation. They must be solved by all of us coming together.”
The Summit succeeded in energizing the international community on matters of nuclear security as a different and distinct entity from nuclear safeguards or nuclear non-proliferation. Recognizing the importance of this Summit, and that its goals require a long-term commitment, South Korea volunteered to host the next Nuclear Security Summit in 2012, while Argentina volunteered to host the next Sherpa’s Meeting later in 2010 or early 2011.
PRESIDENT JONATHAN LATER MET SEPARATELY WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
PRESIDENT JONATHAN WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA
For Nigeria, the Summit provided the platform to re-engage the world. Although, the Summit was for two days, the visit of the President to the United States was more of whistle-stop State Visits co-located in one city, as he was able to interact with several Heads of State.
