Source > http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2010/jul/195.html

I am not a pessimist and will never be, but I shiver anytime I read about Nigerian government's contemplation to acquire nuclear technology and build nuclear power plant to make energy supply available to Nigerians. I tried sometimes to convince myself that it's only a joke that perhaps those pushing for atomic energy plant in Nigeria are just looking for a way for personal enrichment. On the other hand, this was how there were suggestions to send a Nigerian Satellite to the Space many years back, until it became a shameful reality. The meeting of the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) hosted in Abuja recently and the report below are what is prompting me to write this article. Yoruba will say, E má je kí á fi iná sórùlé lo sùn (we should not keep fire on the rooftop while going to sleep).


Enumerating the hazards a nuclear power plant could cause will take a whole book to explain. So, let us talk about Nigerian factors. How will a nation that has no maintenance culture, that cannot maintain ordinary roads and other uncomplicated infrastructures in the country will be thinking of building a nuclear power station? Has Nigeria been able to manage and maintain ordinary refinery? Look at Kanji Dam and Niger Bridge, both which could go down any moment. Is it a government that will allocate funds for turn around maintenance and pocket same, that is planning to acquire atomic energy technology? Is it the same people that will leave their places of work to attend to their mistresses and friends at pepper soup joints or suya spots that will man the atomic energy facility that needs the watchful eyes of an eagle? Or, those that will leave their offices in search of governments' contracts in other places that will be employed to look after the running of the nuclear facility? Is there any sanity in these people at all?

Assuming Nigerians can run the atomic plant safely, which I personally doubt because of the maintenance culture aforementioned, how will Nigeria go about the atomic waste? It is this atomic waste that is making advanced countries to look for other ways in solving their energy supply problems. Perhaps we should first be informed on how the little nuclear waste products generated in those already existing small nuclear reactor facilities in the research and health institutions across the federation are being disposed off. Definitely some of the atomic wastes have found their ways to the many rubbish heaps across the nation. Is it not in Nigeria that a 50 years old man was contracted recently by Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), to bury over sixty dead babies at a particular destination and he was intercepted by the police while taking the corpses elsewhere for burial?

The horrifying imaginations that make me more tremble are, one, the thought of a Nigerian nuclear power station worker trying to sell off the nuclear waste to anybody willing to buy to cut corner and make money the Nigerian way in these days of terrorism. Two, the religion fanatics in Nigeria that could easily get access to the nuclear waste in Nigeria. We all know what happened in Nigeria when a cartoon was published in far away Sweden.

Advanced and developed nations are having problems on how to successfully dispose off their nuclear wastes. Apart from the fear of explosion in the plant itself, like it happened in Chernobyl in 1986 that the whole city and surrounding areas have became uninhabitable till now. Some of those Russians, who attempted helping to put the situation under control, died due to radiation under mysterious illness shortly after the operation to save the situation. Others are still wringing in pains up till now. Many children born several years thereafter, from survivals of that tragedy, come to this world with different deformities. The Russian government of that time had to evacuate the whole people of the city and its environ en masse and relocate them to several other far away towns and cities. The Nigeria government is not capable of undertaking such an evacuation. The Bakassi case is still fresh in mind.

There are many health hazards occurring within the vicinity of many nuclear plants and where nuclear wastes are kept temporarily around the world. There is no safe place to keep nuclear waste. It radiates through anything one can think of for hundreds of thousands of years, some scientists say millions of years, and cause immense havoc on human health. There is nothing that can stop the radiation of nuclear material. There are cases of deformities among newborn babies in all the neighbourhoods where atomic energy power stations are built and waste products are deposited throughout the world. Some workers of atomic power plants have met their untimely death while many are suffering from one chronic illness or the other, of which a high degree of different kind of cancer ailment is common.

These and many other overall dangers that nuclear energy poses are making many European countries having a rethink on the politics of nuclear energy generation. North American governments are deliberately hiding information on hazards emanating from nuclear materials from their people, because the controversies, the restlessness and perhaps the violent demonstrations that it will eventually generate. In US in particular, there is no freedom of information on nuclear themes apart from its study in higher institutions and the peaceful usage of it. This is so, because US is the biggest user of nuclear materials, be it as energy source, in health section or for military use, even for some special bullets. Most men and women in uniform are not even aware of the danger of nuclear materials that accompany them.

In the Nigeria of old, Electricity Cooperation of Nigeria (ECN), was generating power from the abundant coal deposits of Udi Hill in Enugu. It was after the commencement of energy generation from Kanji Dam that Nigerian government abandoned electricity generation from coal. This shows how visionless Nigerian leaders are. Agreed there was civil war in-between, mining of coal for energy generation would have been impossible, but the civil war of three years is now more than forty years over. What is stopping the government going back to make use of this source of power generation instead of clamouring for atomic energy, when the European countries are still using coal as a source to generate electricity till date? German government, not quite long ago, relocated the whole people of an area in order to mine the large brown coal deposits underneath their abodes and farmlands for energy generation. The Chinese are going as far as Australia to mine coal for power generation to propel their heavy industries.

Is Nigeria government trying to acquire nuclear bomb through the backdoor, when many Nigerians could not afford one good nourishing meal a day?

Why must Nigeria go nuclear? Are there are no other alternatives to generate energy that could cause little or no havoc to human beings? What about solar (sun) energy that presents itself abundantly in Africa that could be tapped immensely from the vast barren land in the northern part of Nigeria? What about those numerous rivers no matter how small in Nigeria that could easily be dammed and provide the possibility of generating hydro energy? Does wind not blow in Nigeria, that it could be tapped through windmill for energy? Or, Nigeria has no Sea/Ocean that its waves could be used to generate energy? But Nigerians produce mountains of rubbish everywhere you go in the country; can these not be used to generate thermo energy? If all these energy sources are properly and effectively harnessed, there will be more than sufficient energy supply for the whole of Nigeria.

Actually in this modern age, government should have no business in generating and supplying electricity. If energy supply has to be effective and efficiently run, it has to be privatised. It is a profit-making establishment. Therefore, power generation and distribution should be decentralized and made attractive. The federal government should provide enabling conditions with regulations for private entrepreneurs to invest heavily in this sector. By so doing, interested companies will be able to avail all opportunities open, apart from that of atomic energy which the government must explicitly declare no go area, to generate and supply electricity to the populace. Since there is high demand in the country for power supply, many companies will attempt to make money and Nigeria will benefit immensely.

Why must it be nuclear energy that will invariably gulp up double the funds needed for all aforementioned sources of energy put together in terms of construction and maintenance? And that will only create job opportunities for expatriates? Most, if not all, of the alternative sources of energy listed above could easily be constructed, carefully put in place and managed by Nigerian scientists or professionals both at home or abroad without much fuss.

Or, is it not a foreign company that the government going to consult to draw the nuclear plant plan, build, manage and maintain? Oh, I have forgotten, those collaborators and embezzlers parading themselves as Nigerian leaders will beg Julius Berger 'the only indigenous company in Nigeria' to do the job, so that the contract value could easily be inflated sky heavens for the benefits of their private coffers.

Nigeria is blessed with enormous gas deposit apart from those that come with crude oil production and being flared in the Niger Delta. We have heard that many gas turbines were imported into the country and that there is no gas to fire them and generate power, yet gas flaring is going on in many places in the Niger Delta unabated. Can the gas being flared not be directed to fire those turbines? Or is the technology for the diversion of the gas being flared yet to be invented? If the government has failed to utilize this gas to generate power supply effectively, because of lack of coordination between various government establishments involved, as the government is always trying to make people believe, how then will the government be in a position to manage nuclear power generation that the people have no clue about?

Anytime the Federal government decides finally to start building the nuclear power plant, the end of the world is near. The ultimate MCA (the total meltdown), what Germans refer to as super-GAU, will then happen. Thus, Pastor Enoch Adeboye of RCCG will no more need to wait till the end of the century to welcome Jesus Christ on his second coming as he had once in January 2000 so prophesied Jesus revealed to him.

Since 1986 no known new atomic power plant has been built in all the advanced countries (not developing or under-developed countries), because of the havoc experienced with Chernobyl accident, even though there is a very high demand for energy supply. In Germany, for example, most of the atomic energy plants are not even running at half full capacity, because of danger of explosion and the problem associated with atomic waste product's disposal. As of today German is expanding and depending more on wind energy than any other sources of energy. US that is considering building new atomic power plants has no concrete plan to do so. Even China, with the highest demand for energy supply currently worldwide, is looking for other sources of energy supply, and not considering building a new atomic energy power plant.

Why are they then propagating its 'peaceful usefulness' and trying to sell the idea to the third world countries? The answer is because of the economic gains they will derive from the contracts. Some advanced countries are counting on the naivety of the leaders of some under-developed nations to have contract signed for the construction of nuclear power stations.

Their gain is of two folds. One, this invariably will provide opportunities for their unemployed scientists. It is not only just constructing the nuclear power plant that will be in play, but also the involvement of long dependency of the under-develop country on the contractor for the supply of spare parts, maintenance and the disposal of the nuclear wastes that will last for many years if not forever. Nuclear power plant is not what a contractor from one country will construct, and when there is misunderstanding between the two countries the under-developed country will call in another nuclear energy consulting firm from another developed country to come and manage. With nuclear power station, every developed country has a different system that only that particular country can effectively and efficiently manage. Thus, when a nuclear energy consultant/construction company is contracted from a particular country, you are stuck with that country for life.

Look at what is happening today with ordinary Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company originally constructed by the Russians. Is the company till date being able to produce iron sheets and rods constantly? Nigeria, Nigeria!!! Nuclear power station is more sophisticated. No room for any miscalculation. It is very dangerous and deadly, when messed around like the macabre playing out at Ajaoukta.

The second gain for those advanced countries propagating for the 'positive and peaceful usefulness' of nuclear energy to the under-developed world is an attempt to temporarily stop the continuous downward trend their economy is now experiencing and that will continue to do for the unforeseeable future. With their propaganda, they hope to get one or two under-developed countries hooked to them that will continue to boost and sustain their economy. Most of these countries are loosing their economic power to Asian countries through cheap production and marketing of automobiles, ship building, electrical apparatus, electronics, IT technology know-how and other diverse machineries.

Those with the nuclear energy technology know-how are well aware, that no matter how the under-developed nations' professionals, especially Africans, are trained to run the nuclear power stations in their countries, they will still be found wanting in spare parts procurement and overall maintenance. And the costs are enormous. Their interest in getting the nuclear energy technology transfer to Africa is purely economic. Once a nuclear power station is built, the dependence on the constructor will be forever. It is another way to make unsuspecting African countries be indebted to those countries offering their nuclear technology know-how for 'peaceful uses'. Another easy way to colonize Africa economically.

Nobody should feel safe and unconcerned about the problems of atomic energy power plant. In case of an explosion in a nuclear power station that may be located anywhere in Nigeria, the effects will be visible in the whole region of West Africa, if not half of Africa. It knows no boundary. The Chernobyl explosion of 1986 in Ukraine affected everywhere in Europe. Mushrooms, powdered milk, beans, fruits, potatoes and many other edible food items could not be exported, imported or consumed easily and freely throughout Europe. The effects are still everywhere till today. The city is still a ghost of itself. Nobody is living there, if pictures and commentaries run on German television not quite long ago are to be relied upon. It has become uninhabitable and probably will remain so for eternity.

The leakages that keep reoccurring in some nuclear power plants in Europe always cause big rumpus among governments and oppositions wherever and whenever they happen. There is always a daily agitation in all neighbourhoods throughout Europe, where an atomic power plant is situated. Why would Nigeria and other African countries like to have such a thing in their countries, when Europeans are looking for ways to discard such energy source?

All countries that are currently in possession of atomic energy are disciplined societies, but unfortunately this cannot be said of Nigeria, as many people will agree with me. A country its leadership will collaborate with foreigners to steal the wealth of the nation. A country where the custodian of the apex bank will announce to the whole world, that the banking industry of the nation is under the control of thieves and at the same time still expects foreign investors to bring money into the country. A country that its ruling elites could waste hundreds of millions of Naira to gather in another country for just a discussion on an anniversary that will eventually take place in their own country. Very unfortunate. Therefore, every sensible Nigerian that loves the country is hereby called upon to put in his/her contribution as pressure catalysis to make the government change its plan in acquiring this murderous monster of a technology.

I personally find it difficult to understand African leaders. Why would they always allow black people to be ridiculed every time? These European countries, that are making atomic energy attractive for its 'peaceful usage' in terms of energy generation for Africa, have formed a joint company purposely mandated to build a gigantic solar energy plant (field) in the desert of North Africa for energy supply to Europe. The cost for the construction of the solar energy plant (field) and transferring of the energy generated back to Europe is far less than the budget to construct a few nuclear plants. But the energy to be generated in these fields for Europe consumption will surpass electricity generated by at least tens of nuclear power plants put together. The company is already delivering energy back to Europe from North Africa. The installation of more sun collector panels is on-going, while African leaders are being persuaded (deceived) to go nuclear.

The time is now for Nigerians with more information on havocs the usage of nuclear materials could cause, especially in energy generation, to come out and join hands together, to educate other Nigerians in order to stop the Nigerian government in its adventure to acquire atomic energy on a massive scale. The danger that could emanate from the small nuclear reactors Nigeria already possess for health treatment is fearful enough. There are other cheap sources the government could derive its energy supply from and make electricity available to Nigerians, if the leadership is serious and not ready to privatise energy generation and electricity distribution as suggested above.

Could someone help to tell the Director General of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, the Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Prof. Shamsuddeen Elegba and their colleagues in African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) that developed nations are seriously doing away with nuclear energy because of the dangers it poses to their people? That, they too should put their resources together and concentrate their energies on how to make use of the God abundantly given solar, water and wind energy sources on the continent for electricity supply. That, not only are these energy sources healthier and renewable, but will create and secure more employment opportunities for African scientists and experts both at home and Diaspora.

(see below the lack of coordination, cooperation and the confusion already taking place ordinarily on bill of Safety Regulations between bodies responsible to make atomic energy function in Nigeria).

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A RECENT NEWS STORY NUCLEAR POWER IN NIGERIA :

Govt intensifies work on nuclear power project

The Nigerian Guardian Newspaper, 16 July 2010 00:00 From Emeka Anuforo and Florence Lawrence, Abuja News - National

THE Federal Government has intensified work on its nuclear power project as the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) has identified some sites for the first nuclear power plants and subsequent ones in the country.

The Nigerian Nuclear Authority (NNRA) has developed draft regulations for site licensing using international safety standards.

Also, the Federal Government has voted N30 billion for ecological projects.

But stakeholders at a national workshop on the safety requirements for nuclear power plants siting said in Abuja yesterday that risk assessments had to be extremely comprehensive and must identify all conditions, which could result in an accident. They also stressed the need for the project to be subjected to the rigorous tests of environmental impact assessment.

The NAEC is urging the National Assembly to direct the convening of a meeting of the relevant stakeholders to review the draft bill on nuclear safety, security and safeguards to ensure that its provisions conform to the regulatory responsibilities of the NNRA, as well as removing all conflicts with existing legislations.

The Minister of Environment John Odey, who raised some of these concerns, stressed that site selection for nuclear power plants and its ultimate licensing was crucial to environmental safety given the complexity of the requirements for candidate sites and the potential impact of a nuclear power plant on the environment and the people.

He added: "We must take adequate measures from the outset, on the management of the wastes that would arise from the spent nuclear fuel, the tailings from the uranium mines and mills, the radioactive effluents from the proposed plants and strict measures on containing the environmental effects in case of accidents."

He urged the NNRA to adhere to international best practices by implementing adequate safety regulations for the siting of the nuclear power plants in the country.

Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Prof. Shamsuddeen Elegba, assured that the safety of nuclear power plants, workers and the public was paramount in its duty.

He continued: "The operation of nuclear power plants will start with siting, which must be licenses. This is pertinent to state here that this is the second public consideration of the draft regulations. The draft regulations for the licensing of sites for nuclear power plants, was subjected to scrutiny at a national training workshop held last October in Abuja. The workshop was co-organized with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and was attended by international experts and all national stakeholders' experts and all national stakeholders.

"Operation of nuclear power plants is a project that requires the support and confidence of all Nigerians that we can do it safely. This cannot be presumed. It must go through the rigorous process of licensing, which must be transparent. That is the mandate of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority and that is the main objective of this workshop."

Only on Wednesday, the House of Representatives held a public hearing on the nuclear safety, security and safeguards bill 2009.

In a memo presented to the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), the Director General of the NAEC, Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, stressed that his agency would also ensure safety in the execution of the nation's power projects, since the NAEC was charged with the responsibility for the promotion of the development of atomic energy and for all matters relating to the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

He stressed: "Based on this premise, the International Atomic Energy Agency, had advised that it is imperative that the provisions of the draft NAEC law are harmonized with those of the draft Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguards Bill which the IAEA had assisted in developing in 2006. This is to ensure that all the existing or imminent overlaps or contradictions between the two draft legislations are eliminated.

eewule:

Source > http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2010/jul/195.html

Enumerating the hazards a nuclear power plant could cause will take a whole book to explain. So, let us talk about Nigerian factors. How will a nation that has no maintenance culture, that cannot maintain ordinary roads and other uncomplicated infrastructures in the country will be thinking of building a nuclear power station? Has Nigeria been able to manage and maintain ordinary refinery? Look at Kanji Dam and Niger Bridge, both which could go down any moment. Is it a government that will allocate funds for turn around maintenance and pocket same, that is planning to acquire atomic energy technology? Is it the same people that will leave their places of work to attend to their mistresses and friends at pepper soup joints or suya spots that will man the atomic energy facility that needs the watchful eyes of an eagle? Or, those that will leave their offices in search of governments' contracts in other places that will be employed to look after the running of the nuclear facility? Is there any sanity in these people at all?

This is also my concern. Atomic energy won't just be a great achievement for Nigeria, but a great way to go about taking care of the country's energy problems. But with all the risks inherent with the process, I just don't think Nigerian society is self-consistent enough to harbor an atomic plant.

@OP let me first say God bless you for this insightful post,am more than concerned right now,I just hope dumb African leaders ll not buy this silly idea of atomic s.hit, we have more problems already to last a lifetime in this country.let them not play with fire,he that has ears let him hear

Nigeria is like a child who is trying to jump before he/she learns to crawl.

Nuclear energy ko!!

Lets start with the maintanance of the turbines we already have on ground. No NNPC refinery is working at optimum capacity, Nitel is history, oue satelite in space is missing, Nigerian Airways is grounded, Our trains are non-existent, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria now manufacture just wheelbarrow, our roads are now death traps, Nipost (sorry I could only laugh after I wrote this), Water works (more laughter),


Dont worry, we are still over 200 years away from Nuclear energy.

I said this before but not as elaborately as you did. Just on a discussion on nairaland and some smart peeps were counting the gains, constant electricity, blah, blah, blah.  I hope they will read you write-up and have a rethink.

Some of them will just view it and other make useless remarks because they think and feel safe wherever they are right now. and their parents in the corridors of power can always fly them out in case of any accident/problems.

this might be the end of Nigeria and may be Africa