the death penalty was still on his country’s statute books for national security reasons and as a deterrent against serious crimes. Inferences contained in the draft could not be accepted. Capital punishment in Nigeria was meted out for the most serious offences, where human life had been taken or the security of the State threatened. There had been no cases of capital punishment in recent years in Nigeria. In essence, a moratorium on the death penalty should not be imposed by any group of States. Any moratorium should be on basis of negotiation and agreement. The draft resolution fell short of that. Nigeria found the degree of division on the issue disturbing. In view of the draft resolution’s controversial nature and attempts to impose it on Member States, the Nigerian delegation would vote against the draft.