By Nanzing Tao
[P]resident Muhammed Buhari has welcomed the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA for Nigeria’s aspiration to generate electricity using nuclear energy.
Speaking in company of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and a number of Ministers while receiving Mr. Yukiya Amano, the Director-General of the IAEA, the President said he was happy that the organization was developing a program from which Nigeria will benefit.
In his address, Mr. Amano said he was pleased to see that Nigeria was taking the correct steps, so far, toward a safe usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
According to a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Ministers of Power, Solid Minerals, Health, Science and Technology who briefed the meeting said preparatory steps taken so far included the training of doctors and other medical specialists to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, the establishment of specialist medical centres and the procurement of necessary equipment aimed at protecting the health of the citizens.
“Nigeria, said the Ministers, is aspiring to start a program in the coming years that will give this country one thousand megawatts of electricity in the first instance, to be increased to 4,000 megawatts thereafter. President Buhari charged the IAEA to do more to support Nigeria in view of the long years of its association and support for the nuclear regulatory agency,” the statement read.
