The Federal Government has emphasized on 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 Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume revealed this at the Stakeholders Forum on Implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention In Nigeria. The SGF represented at the event by the Senior Technical Assistant Prof. Bolaji Babatunde 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).In a release signed by Director,Information and Public Relations,Segun Imhosien, the council 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.

Meanwhile,the Council comprised over 42 members drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Organised Private Sectors and the Academia.