Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has dismissed claims that it was secretly involved in developing a nuclear weapon for Nigeria.
The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, said in a statement on Saturday that the allegation, which surfaced in a viral video, is false and misleading. He added that the video is AI-generated and intended to spread misinformation about Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear energy programme.
The video claimed that Nigerian scientists in the 1980s secretly enriched weapons-grade uranium in Kaduna and that ABU researchers acquired centrifugal equipment from the infamous AQ Khan network in Pakistan. ABU, however, described these claims as baseless and entirely unsubstantiated.
“Most of the ABU scientists at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) were still undergoing training abroad in the 1980s and could not have participated in uranium enrichment,” Umar stated.
He also clarified that Nigeria’s first nuclear reactor, the NIRR-1, was established in 1996 under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and officially commissioned in 2004. “Any suggestion that ABU was engaged in nuclear weapons development decades before the reactor existed is false,” he added.
The university emphasized that its nuclear programme has always been peaceful, focusing on energy research, medical applications, and capacity building. Umar warned the public to disregard unverified videos circulating on social media, noting that such misinformation could create unnecessary fear and tension.
ABU’s clarification comes amid growing concerns about fake news and AI-generated content, which have become a global challenge. Analysts have warned that such content can easily mislead people and harm the reputation of institutions if not verified.
As Nigeria continues to develop its nuclear technology for electricity generation and research purposes, ABU reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and adherence to international safety and non-proliferation standards. The university urged citizens to rely on credible sources for information and avoid spreading unverified claims.
The statement has sparked discussions online, with many users applauding ABU for promptly addressing the false claims.
