The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has firmly denied allegations suggesting it was involved in developing a nuclear weapon for Nigeria. The university made this clarification in a statement issued by Malam Auwalu Umar, Director of the Public Affairs Directorate, on Saturday in Zaria.

Umar dismissed the circulating video that made the allegations as AI-generated misinformation designed to mislead the public about Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear energy initiatives. He explained that the video falsely alleged that Nigerian scientists in the 1980s enriched weapons-grade uranium in Kaduna and that ABU researchers acquired centrifugal equipment from Pakistan’s AQ Khan network.

Describing the claim as baseless and untrue, Umar emphasized that most of ABU’s scientists at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) were still undergoing training abroad during the 1980s and could not have been involved in any uranium enrichment activities. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to ethical scientific research within international standards and cooperation frameworks.

Umar also clarified that Nigeria’s first nuclear reactor, known as NIRR-1, was established in 1996 under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and officially commissioned in 2004. This, he said, clearly proves that the country’s nuclear research only began long after the alleged period in question.

The university urged the public to disregard the viral video and avoid sharing unverified content that could damage Nigeria’s image or undermine legitimate academic institutions. ABU reiterated its dedication to transparency, national development, and global peace through responsible scientific research.