The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) has said it is working in collaboration with the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to deploy nuclear science and technology to strengthen electric power generation in Nigeria.
The Chairman of NAEC, Prof. Yusuf-Aminu Ahmed, disclosed this during the 20th Anniversary Symposium of Nigeria’s first Nuclear Research Reactor-1 (NNR-1) in Zaria.
Ahmed said the experience developed over the years on nuclear power at the center makes Nigeria ripe and ready to go into the next level of power generation through the nuclear reactor.
“We have used the reactor for research and development over the years and now we are going to use the reactor for the purpose of generating electricity.
“President Bola Tinubu has already given the commission a mandate to see how it contributes to the clean energy sphere of Nigeria and the nuclear energy program of Nigeria would participate,’’ Ahmed said.
Ahmed clarified that while the timeline for the project wouldn’t be disclosed to the public, international partners and vendors were actively collaborating with the commission on its implementation.
Furthermore, he noted that intergovernmental agreements had been finalized with certain vendors regarding nuclear power in Nigeria, with an imminent announcement expected from President Tinubu.
In an earlier address, Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, highlighted that the two decades of incident-free operation of the nuclear research reactor signified Nigeria’s commitment to the responsible utilization of nuclear energy.
Akume, represented by his Special Assistant on Technical Issues, Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, further elaborated that given the successful two-decade track record of safe operation of the nuclear research reactor, the center is well-equipped to handle the procurement and operation of a nuclear reactor for electricity generation.
He explained that the procedures involved in obtaining a reactor for electricity generation are akin to those followed in operating a nuclear research reactor.
”President Tinubu has re-echoed the need for having nuclear energy as the source of electric power generation in Nigeria and Nigerians should look forward to this power.
“Electricity generated through nuclear energy is clean and safe except for human errors or natural causes such as the one that happened in Hiroshima,’’ he said.
Adding to the discussion, Prof. Sunday Jonah, the Director of the center, emphasized that the occasion marked a significant milestone in commemorating 20 years of the safe operation, maintenance, and utilization of the inaugural Nuclear Research Reactor, known as NNR-1.
However, Jonah expressed concern over purported attempts by NAEC to take control of the center from the university through the proposed NAEC Bill 2022. He explained that such a move would contradict the original vision of the center’s establishment within universities, which aimed to foster a culture of research and development in designated academic institutions.