The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representative, Dimeji Bankole, has said that nuclear energy development in the country would both be lawful and peaceful.
Bankole said this at a workshop organized by the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on nuclear safety.
The speaker, who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Petroleum and Energy, Bassey Itu, said, `though application of nuclear energy for peaceful uses in Nigeria is quite old, our endeavors over the past three decades have all been done with the knowledge and support of the IAEA.’’
`Indeed most of our programs have been within the framework of IAEA Technical Cooperation projects and have covered all areas ranging from medical diagnoses and therapy to the operation of a nuclear research reactor donated to Nigeria by the IAEA.’’
The Speaker said it was Nigeria’s desire to keep this trend and continue the national endeavor within the ambit of international treaties and conventions on nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
Bankole said that organization and systematic development of nuclear energy in Nigeria started in 1976, with the promulgation of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Act Number 46, which led to the establishment of two centers of excellence in nuclear science and technology at two Nigerian universities.
These are Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife.
He said that with the political commitment of the country towards the development of nuclear power for electricity generation, Nigeria in 2007 signed an MOU with the IAEA.
“The most important step in the development of legislative and regulatory infrastructure was however not taken until August 1995 when the Nuclear safety and Radiation Protection Act Number 19 was promulgated ; while its implementation started in May 2001 with the establishment of NNRA,’’ he said.
Source African Press Agency
