Key developments since May 2002: Nigeria
has not submitted its Article 7 Report, due on 28 August 2002. The status of a
possible landmine stockpile remains unclear.
Mine Ban Policy
The President signed Nigeria’s instrument of
accession to the Mine Ban Treaty on 23 July 2001, and it was formally deposited
with the United Nations on 27 September 2001. The treaty entered into force on
1 March 2002. In February 2002, a government official stated that the
government is “looking into” domestic implementation legislation for
the treaty.[1] Since that time,
Nigeria has not provided any information about national implementation measures,
which are required under Article 9.
Nigeria’s initial Article 7 transparency report was due 28 August 2002.
As of July 2003, it had not been deposited with the UN. Nigeria has not offered
an explanation for its failure to meet this treaty obligation.
Nigeria attended the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002 and
participated in intersessional Standing Committee meetings in February and May
2003.
Nigeria voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 on 22 November
2002, calling for universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
In its statement to the First Committee, Nigeria’s delegation stated the
government is “totally committed” to the elimination of landmines.
Further, the delegation noted “the positive role that NGOs have continued
to play in this area” and called “on member states that have not
done so to accede to the Convention as early as
possible.”[2]
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use
Nigeria is not known to have ever produced or
exported antipersonnel mines. In the past it has stated that it has not
acquired or used antipersonnel mines since the 1967-1970 Biafra Civil
War.[3]
In February 2001, the Chief of Operations of the Nigerian Army said that most
Nigerian antipersonnel mines were used up in the war and remaining stocks were
destroyed shortly thereafter. He said that no antipersonnel mines were retained
even for training or development
purposes.[4] In 2002, Landmine
Monitor reported that slides presented at a Standing Committee meeting in May
2002 of the disaster at the Lagos Ammunition Depot showed antipersonnel
mines.[5] Nigeria has not
provided any clarification of its stockpile situation.
Landmine Casualties
Nigeria is not mine-affected. There were casualties
from landmines laid in the civil war, but no further information is available.
It is not known if any Nigerian soldiers involved in peacekeeping operations
have been killed or injured by landmines. In January 2002, the day after the
explosions at the Lagos Ammunition Transit Depot, a young man was reportedly
injured after stepping on a landmine at the
scene.[6] A Nigerian human
rights group, Environmental Rights Action, has reported at least one injury
caused by unexploded ordnance in December
2002.[7]
[1] Interview with Desk Officer on
Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Nigeria, 20 February
2002. [2] Statement by Ambassador E.E.
Onobu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, on the General Debate of the First
Committee at the 57th United Nations General Assembly Session, New York, 3
October 2002. [3] Landmine Monitor
Report 2001, pp. 256-257. Nigeria denies allegations that its ECOWAS troops used
mines in the 1990s in Liberia and Sierra Leone. See Landmine Monitor Report
1999, p. 203. [4] Interview with Major
General Yellow-Duke, during the Bamako Regional Seminar on Landmines, Mali, 15
February 2001. [5] Landmine Monitor
Report 2002, p. 386. [6] “Today in
the Nigerian Papers,” P.M. News, 29 January 2002; see also Landmine
Monitor Report 2002, p. 386. [7]
“Unexploded Ordnance Threatens Residents of Southern Town – Rights
Group,” IRIN, 24 December 2002.