By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE FEDERAL Ministry of Power has initiated a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in a renewed push to diversify and stabilise electricity supply across the country.
During a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu received the Acting Chairman of NAEC, Engr. Anthony Ekedewa, reaffirming government commitment to reforms in the power sector through advanced technologies, including nuclear energy.
Adelabu described the collaboration as timely and essential to bolstering energy generation capacity, emphasising nuclear power as a future-facing solution with vast potential to transform the sector.
“We must embrace anything that can add value to our power sector,” the Minister stated, adding that the long-awaited participation of NAEC in Nigeria’s energy mix was “overdue.”
While commending the Commission’s efforts, Adelabu advised against the initial proposal to build four large-scale plants of 1,200MW each.
Instead, he championed modular nuclear reactors as a more sustainable and decentralised solution, particularly beneficial to individual states now developing independent energy projects.
“Nuclear energy is the future of energy generation,” he said. “We’re not quite there yet, but now is the right time to start.”
The Minister acknowledged the complex, costly nature of nuclear development but insisted the long-term benefits justify the investment.
He proposed a joint workshop involving both agencies and other stakeholders to forge a roadmap for implementing nuclear solutions within Nigeria’s reforming power landscape.
“This collaboration must be sustained,” Adelabu said. “We’re laying the foundation for a stable energy future.”
Acting Chairman Ekedewa noted that the NAEC, established in 1976 under the Obasanjo military administration, had made significant technical progress, including feasibility studies on two potential nuclear plant sites—Geregu in Kogi State and Idu in Akwa Ibom State.
He expressed the Commission’s readiness to serve as a base-load provider for the country’s power supply but acknowledged financial constraints as a major hurdle.
“We want to partner with you to drive power generation. We’ve done the groundwork, but we need support,” Ekedewa stated.
He was accompanied by senior NAEC officials including Prof Abdullahi Mati, Engr. Awwal Bisallah, and Engr. Justice Sule.
Nigeria’s Nuclear Power Roadmap: Proposed Plant Sites and Development Timeline
1. Geregu, Kogi State (North-Central Nigeria)
Coordinates: 7.5649° N, 6.6847° E
Planned Capacity: 2 × 1,200 MW (Total: 2,400 MW)
Reactor Type: VVER-1200 (Russian design)
Status: Site selected; feasibility studies completed; awaiting preliminary licensing from the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) .
2. Itu, Akwa Ibom State (South-South Nigeria)
Coordinates: Approximately 5.2000° N, 7.9333° E
Planned Capacity: 2 × 1,200 MW (Total: 2,400 MW)
Reactor Type: VVER-1200
Status: Site selected; agreements signed with Russia’s Rosatom for construction and operation; preliminary licensing process initiated.
📅 Nigeria’s Nuclear Power Development Timeline
2006: Activation of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC).
2007: Federal Government approves the National Nuclear Power Roadmap and Strategy.
2015: Nigeria begins discussions with Rosatom for the construction of nuclear power plants.
2017: Agreements signed with Rosatom for the construction and operation of the Itu nuclear power plant.
2024: Nigeria and China sign an economic and nuclear energy pact to reinforce collaboration in nuclear energy development.
🔍 Key Considerations
Decentralisation: The Federal Ministry of Power advocates for modular nuclear reactors to align with the decentralised power sector, allowing states to benefit directly from nuclear energy projects.
Infrastructure Development: Significant investment is required to develop the necessary infrastructure, including regulatory frameworks, human resources, and safety protocols, to support nuclear energy deployment.
International Collaboration: Partnerships with countries like Russia and China are pivotal in providing technical expertise, funding, and technology transfer for Nigeria’s nuclear energy ambitions.
