President Mohammadu Buhari has said Nigeria is exploring nuclear energy to generate electricity.
He also expressed the unwavering commitment of his administration to the energy mix through the acquisition of nuclear power.
The President spoke at the just concluded International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century held in Washington DC.
According to him, the Federal Government has activated the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, NAEC, as the national focal agency charged with the responsibility of developing the framework and technical pathway to explore, exploit and harness atomic energy for peaceful applications for the socio-economic development of the country.
He said Nigeria had also established the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority as an independent agency of government to ensure the safety of humans and the protection of the environment in the process of development, deployment, and use of nuclear power.
Buhari, who spoke through the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora, said like most other nations on the continent, Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million people, had a serious energy supply deficit, making it compelling for the government to critically look towards other energy options that were affordable, more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Consequently, he disclosed that Nigeria had decided to fully explore and harness nuclear energy resources for the generation of electricity, which would contribute to the country’s energy security through an appropriate energy mix.
