Nigeria is ready for nuclear energy- Fashola

Mr Fashola Babatunde

The Federal Government on Wednesday, said Nigeria was ready to commence  the production of nuclear energy.  The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who made  this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said  Nigeria had secured the necessary certification from the International  Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA). FasholaFashola  Fashola said: “`This thing has protocols and standards; we are already  in it; we are not venturing into it; we started a nuclear programme 17  years ago.  “We have gone through the training level; we have produced 25 graduates  of master’s level under certification by the International Atomic Energy  Agency.  “We have found the sites; the sites have been approved, two sites have  been approved by International Atomic Energy Agency.  “We have started the design for the financing; that is the stage we are  now; once we conclude that, we move to the design for the construction.  “If all things go well, by quarter four of next year – that is the  schedule that I met – we should have started construction, so that is  what I meet.“  Fashola said it was important for Nigeria to focus on the gains and  safety of nuclear energy as obtained in other developed countries.  He said that since the whole world was moving toward a cleaner fuel and  the use of more sustainable form of energy, Nigeria could be an  exception.  He, however, said that the developed countries could only share the  technology with countries ready keep to the standards in the utilisation  of the technology.  The minister further said that diversifying the nation’s energy mix  would lead to the utilisation of the various forms of renewable energy  sources in the country.  This, according to him, will ultimately make electricity cheap in the  country.  “What we are thinking about is long-term solution. We need a solution  that will endure for generations to come.  “When you design a power solution, design it so that the next coming  generations can use it.  He said the ministry and other agencies under his supervision were  working hard to ensure that Nigeria obtained the best in the electricity  industry through strict regulatory responsibilities.  On the monthly meeting with stakeholders in the industry, Fashola said  it was designed to evolve better ways of managing the industry, adding  that it was yielding the desired results.