African Nuclear Weapon Technology: A Search for Nigerian Perspective

Abstract

Right from when nuclear research began, discovered, developed and deployed, it brought to the fore the destructive capabilities of this latest discovery, while its peaceful means was also sought years later. Many countries of the world, including the then apartheid South Africa, either began to develop their own nuclear weapon program or invested heavily into research for the development or acquisition of nuclear technology. Some developed countries, notably the United States, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic {USSR} and Britain went into more research, others such as France, China and Japan, though got their nuclear breakthrough late between the 60s and 80s, eventually joined the nuclear club. A few African Countries, notably, South Africa, had experiences and took positions with respect to nuclear weapons technology, while other countries such as Egypt, Algeria,  Libya and Nigeria also made attempt at various times. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to explain the rationale for African desire at acquiring nuclear technology, whether for military purpose like other countries or for a peaceful means and why the continent has failed to achieved this noble desire.

Keywords:-nuclear weapon, nuclear proliferation nuclear technology, radioactivity, explosive device