By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
Professor Ango Abdullahi has rated power supply in Nigeria as the same as foreign exchange as it only generates 2,600 megawatts in 62 years.
He stated this at the 20th anniversary of the operation of Nigeria’s First Research Reactor held at the Center for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Abdullahi, a former vice chancellor of the university, said that Nigeria is facing a scarcity of power generation, while generation brings about engagement and development.
According to him, agriculture is the major benefiting from the Nuclear Reactor in Nigeria.
He tasked Nigerians, particularly the scientists to move the country forward in terms of energy development for Nigeria to develop, warning that if that is not done, Nigeria will be under developed.
Professor Ango Abdullahi warned that it is not tertiary institutions that can change the narratives alone, because they are an important instrument.
In his message, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume said Nigeria will continue to collaborate with agencies in agriculture, environment, energy among others.
Represented by Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, his Special Adviser on Technical issues, he said, Center for Energy Research is the first of it’s kind in Nigeria when established.
He said Nigeria is a registered member of international Atomic Agency since 1964 and in 1976, ABU was selected as the Center for excellence and established CERT.
According to him, Nuclear Reactor is 20 years old in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Professor Kabiru Bala said that Nigeria is matured in using nuclear reactor for electricity generation.
He said, nuclear reactor is one of the pillars of Nigeria’s economy particularly in agriculture and oil and gas sector.
Prof. Bala also said, the center received trainees across Nigeria and African countries.
According to him, previous administrations have indicated their desire to improve the Nuclear Reactor in the Center for Energy Research and Training.
In his remarks, the Chairman/CEO Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Prof. Yusuf Aminu Ahmed said that with the numerous opportunities in several other places both within and outside the country they chose to remain in the center to continue in the national efforts towards deploying the reactor facilities for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He said ABU has been very supportive to Nigeria’s Nuclear programmes and deserves a special commendation for their immense support to the center.
Prof. Ahmed said, the commission was previleged to be charged with the responsibility of funding and supervising the activities of the reactor and the center that gave him a great opportunity to contribute to the safety operation of the research reactor to meet it’s objectives.
The Director of the Center, Professor S. A. Jonah said that in line with NIRR-1 achievements that the center has been designated as a guest recipient of the IAEA Reactor Laboratory activities, which has enhanced the teaching of reactor physics and engineering in Nigeria.
Prof. Jonah said that with regards to the future prospects, only recently, NIRR-1 was used to carry out soil fertility and geochemical mapping of arable lands in four local government areas of Kaduna State.
