In order to achieve the electricity needs of the country, the Buhari presidency is considering a mix of energy sources, according to the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).
Besides working to improve power generation from the national grid, alternative sources of energy especially renewable energy are being actively pursued by the federal government, and the vice president has hinted that nuclear energy might also be in the mix.
In a statement issued yesterday by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, he said, “The long and short of it is that we definitely need a mix of energy choices because in the next decade, such a mix will be imperative.’’
In addition to the existing mix of hydro and thermal sources of power generation, Prof. Osinbajo disclosed that the federal government is equally working on the possibility of utilising other energy sources including the solar option.
He spoke yesterday in his office while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission led by its director-general, Dr. Erepamo Osaisai, who came to present a report on the Implementation of Nuclear Power Programme for Nigeria, conducted in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Earlier at the meeting, Dr. Dohee Hann, the director, Nuclear Power at the International Atomic Energy Agency, informed the vice president that Nigeria as Africa’s leading economy needs to consider nuclear energy for electricity in order to address the power deficit.
Also, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Osaisai, disclosed that the presentation of the report to the vice president was an important stage in the process, emphasising that the report had articulated how the nation can meet the infrastructural need for nuclear power programme for the country.
Meanwhile, the federal government is moving deliberately and urgently to bring succour to the people of the North-East whose lives have been affected by the insurgency in that part of the country.
The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), while receiving the new World Bank country director to Nigeria, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, yesterday, said there is the need for immediate action.
“We need to deal with the planning and implementation of the projects that will bring succour to the people of the North East”, he said.
The World Bank is providing assistance to the federal government for the North East and the new country director pledged the bank’s continued support to the government, while also expressing the hope to work with the new Federal Executive Council in other areas including economic diversification.
General T. Y. Danjuma, the chairman of the Presidential Committee in the North-East Initiative (PCNI), attended the meeting alongside the finance minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the budget and planning minister, Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma.
