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The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has dismissed as false and mischievous a viral claim suggesting that the institution was secretly developing a nuclear weapon for Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the university described the allegation as baseless and misleading, stressing that its nuclear research activities have always been conducted under the strict supervision of national and international regulatory agencies.
According to the institution, its Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) only operates a research reactor, the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1), which is exclusively dedicated to peaceful purposes such as agricultural, medical, and industrial applications.
The management clarified that the reactor is operated in full compliance with global non-proliferation treaties and is regularly inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).
“Ahmadu Bello University does not and has never been involved in the development of nuclear weapons or any weapons-grade material. Our facility is for research, education, and training, not for armament,” the statement read in part.
It added that the NIRR-1 reactor, which became operational in 2004, was converted from Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) in 2018, which is a global best practice that further confirms the peaceful intent of its nuclear programme.
The university also dismissed claims linking it to Pakistan’s Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear network in the 1980s, describing such allegations as a fabrication with no historical or scientific basis.
“The only nuclear-related facility ABU had in the 1980s was a small neutron generator used for academic research, not uranium enrichment,” the statement explained.
ABU reiterated its commitment to promoting knowledge and innovation in the field of nuclear science strictly for peaceful applications, reaffirming its role as one of Nigeria’s foremost research institutions in energy development.
The university urged the public to disregard the misleading video and rely on verified information from credible sources.
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