The Russian Federation is to assist Nigeria to construct nuclear power plants as a long-term solution to the nation’s power challenges.
This was one of the outcomes of bilateral talks held between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, and his Russian counterpart, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ajumogobia said that Nigeria, as a signatory to the protocol on nuclear non-proliferation, was only interested in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
He said that inadequate power supply remained one of Nigeria’s greatest challenges, adding that the country could use Russian expertise to find a lasting solution to the protracted power crisis.
According to him, “We believe that nuclear power will be to our benefit in the long-term. With regard to safety, we subscribe to all the protocols. We are also signatories to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
“Therefore, we have no concerns as regards safety; we will ensure that these protocols are carefully observed.”
Ajumogobia also said that Nigeria and Russia had a mutually beneficial relationship, which would be 50 years old on November 25.
In his response, Lavrov said his country was prepared to take relations with Nigeria to the next level.
He said details of some of the mutually beneficial agreements had been ironed out at an earlier meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to him, some of the issues are “capital protection and peaceful nuclear energy.”
Lavrov also said, “We will continue our negotiation about the construction of nuclear power plants in Nigeria.”
He disclosed that Russian carriers would soon be deployed in sending two of Nigeria’s satellites into orbit.
The Russian minister, who was on a one-day working visit to Nigeria, has since returned to his country.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011191485431
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