THE Federal Government has said Nigeria is ready to commence the production of nuclear energy.
The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum, in Abuja.
Fashola said Nigeria had secured the necessary certification from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
‘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 Masters 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 met.”
The minister said it was important for Nigeria to focus on the gains and safety of nuclear energy as obtained in other developed countries.
He said since the whole world was moving toward a cleaner fuel and the use of more sustainable form of energy, Nigeria could not be an exception.
He, however, said the developed countries could only share the technology with countries ready to keep to the standards in the utilisation of the technology.
