The Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) hinted on Friday of its collaboration with the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to adopt nuclear science and technology to boost electricity power generation in the country.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Yusuf Aminu Ahmed, made this disclosure during the 20th Anniversary Symposium of Nigeria’s first Nuclear Research Reactor-1 (NNR-1) in Zaria.
According to him, the NNR-1 experience has made Nigeria ready to go into the next level of power generation through the deployment of the nuclear reactor.
He expatiated: “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 programme of Nigeria would participate”, Ahmed added.
The NAEC Chairman did not disclose the timeline for the project’s takeoff but said that international partners and vendors were collaborating with the commission to ensure the successful launch of the project.
In addition, he disclosed that intergovernmental agreements were signed with some of the vendors on the nuclear power in Nigeria, adding that very soon the President will make a pronouncement on the project.
Earlier in his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, noted that the 20 years of safe operation of the nuclear research reactor was an indication that Nigeria had joined the campaign for the safe application of nuclear energy.
