Ikot Ebon village in Itu local government area in Akwa Ibom State has rejected the establishment of a proposed nuclear plant in their community.
Mr. Okon Akpan, the village Council secretary in the coummunity, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Itu on Monday, said the community was not aware of the proposed project by the Federal Government.
Akpan stated that when the government eventually reveals to them the proposed nuclear plant in their community, they would reject the offer.
“We will come together as a community and decide on what to do when we are approached,” he said.
However, Mr. William Kevin, a youth leader in the community, lamented that the dangers of the proposed project outweigh its benefits of providing electricity.
Kevin wondered if the community people would be driven out of their land before establishing the proposed nuclear plant.
He said that investigation has shown that the nuclear plant would be established about 30 km away from people, lamenting that the establishment of such plant requires good maintenance capacity which is lacking in the country.
“When I heard it on national news, I went and did my findings from professionals at the University of Uyo of the dangers and benefits of the project.
“I found out that it will generate electricity and provide employment for the populace but the problem is that we Nigerians do not have maintenance culture.
“Again, the proposed plant will have to be 30 km away from the community; does it mean that the whole community will be taken away for this project?
“We are having a government that does not listen to the people. The next thing they will argue is that they brought development to the community and we rejected it.
He wondered why Nigeria should think of nuclear plant establishment now when developed countries were rejecting to develop their nuclear plant.
Recall that sometimes ago, the Akwa Ibom Leaders caucus by Sen. Anietie Okon has condemned the plan by Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to site a nuclear plant in Akwa Ibom and Kogi states.
Russia and Nigeria October 30, last year signed an agreement on construction and operation of a nuclear power plant as well as a multipurpose nuclear research centre in Nigeria, Russia’s Rosatom state nuclear corporation said.
The agreement and a “road map” on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies were signed on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.
The Itu nuclear power plant is a twin-reactor nuclear power plant planned in Nigeria. The project foresees construction of two nuclear reactors supplied by Atomstroyexport. The plant would be located in Itu, Akwa Ibom State.
It is part of efforts to find solution to the shortage of power supply in the country. According to World Bank, more than 40 per cent of the country was without electricity in 2014.
The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) explained that the site had been selected for the construction of two nuclear reactors after due considerations. Preliminary licensing of the approved site ended in 2016 from the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) which has started the process of developing the licence.
