NIGERIA yesterday took a more pragmatic step towards generating power from nuclear energy as it officially unveiled a 10-year strategic plan of action.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Finance Remi Babalola, said yesterday that the Federal Government had released in full the capital budget for this year to all its ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) since October ending.
This is coming as Nigeria was certified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as having met the first requirement set by the agency for countries wishing to generate power from nuclear energy. Nigeria is now ready to undertake the significant work necessary to prepare for ordering its first nuclear power plant.
Senate President, David Mark, who spoke at the ceremony in Abuja, stated that Nigeria’s nuclear power programme would generate about 1,000 megawatts (mw) of electricity into the national grid within the next 10 years and up to 4,000 mw by the year 2030.
His words: “We must begin to invest in the development of nuclear power, as it could in the long run serve as our national insurance against the day our oil would be depleted. If we begin now, our country will not be left behind in the future when other countries will be scrambling for other energy resources such as nuclear.”
The Senate President, who expressed joy that Nigeria had achieved the first milestone set by the IAEA, stressed that Nigeria would now go all out to achieve is goals of power generation from nuclear plant.
He added: “We must begin to lay the groundwork to address the fundamental technical and socio-economic issues which will positively impact on technological developments. We must brace up if the nation must attain energy self-sufficiency and sustainability.
“Nuclear energy is economically competitive and environment- friendly and compact and has a very long life span. As a nation, we have what it takes to deploy and develop nuclear power for our national needs.”
On the endorsement of the IAEA, the agency’s representative at the event, Vincent Nkong-Njock, said much efforts had been made to ensure proper application of nuclear for power generation.
His words: “IAEA shares the view considering that the Nigerian national programme has reached Milestone 1 as per the IAEA milestone approach. Nigeria is now ready to undertake the significant work necessary to prepare for ordering its first nuclear power plant.”
He stressed that the milestone includes strict compliance with IAEA safety standards, industry best practices and conformity with all the requisite international statues, treaties and conventions.
Director-General of Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Mr. Erepamo Osaisai gave assurance that the nuclear power project was on course.
In another development, Babalola yesterday said that the Federal Government had released in full the capital budget for the year 2009 to all federal MDAs as at the end of October this year.
According to him, over 50 per cent had been utilised by the MDAs during the period.
Babalola added that there has been an accelerated utilisation of the budget funds by the MDAs in the last two months.
“We have in fact released the full amount of the capital budget as far back as October 31, 2009. Out of the total amount, over 50 per cent of the capital vote has been accessed by the ministries, departments and agencies of government,” he said.
The National Assembly had in February passed a budget of N3.1 trillion for 2009, as against the N2.87 trillion proposed by the government.