{
  "id": 15252499,
  "title": "Nigeria seeks binding global rules on autonomous weapons, warns of terror threat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/nigeria-seeks-binding-global-rules-on-autonomous-weapons-warns-of",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-17T17:50:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nairametrics",
    "slug": "nairametrics",
    "url": "https://nairametrics.com/2026/10/17/nigeria-seeks-binding-global-rules-on-autonomous-weapons-warns-of-terror-threat/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigerian government is advocating for legally binding international regulations on autonomous weapons, expressing concern that advanced military technologies could fall into the hands of terrorist groups and endanger global security. Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Martin Adamu, highlighted the dropping costs and ease of replication of such weapons at the UN General Assembly's First Committee. He emphasized the need for explicit prohibitions and regulations governing lethal autonomous weapons systems, stressing that human control must remain central in decisions involving the use of force and taking human life. Adamu warned that weapons whose effects cannot be adequately understood, predicted, or controlled pose serious legal, humanitarian, and security concerns. He maintained that technological sophistication cannot eliminate human responsibility for military decisions. Nigeria also urged the upcoming UN review conference on conventional weapons to begin negotiations on the proposed international instrument. The delegation expressed worry over AI integration into nuclear weapons systems, insisting on maintaining human judgment and control in all nuclear decisions. Nigeria further called for early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and supported the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The country submitted two disarmament-related draft resolutions on behalf of ECOWAS member states, advocating stronger international cooperation to prevent illicit arms trafficking and address emerging weapons technology risks. Nigeria reiterated support for UN-led cybersecurity efforts and peaceful outer space uses. This call for autonomous weapons regulations follows Nigeria's earlier calls for complete nuclear disarmament and responses to illicit arms proliferation, particularly in West Africa.",
  "summary": "The Federal Government has called for legally binding international rules governing autonomous weapons, warning that increasingly affordable military technologies could enable terrorist organisations to acquire sophisticated weapons and threaten international peace and security. The post Nigeria seeks binding global rules on autonomous weapons, warns of terror threat appeared first on…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}