The proposed siting of a nuclear energy power Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in Oku Iboku community, Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom State has raised serious concerns among the people in the state.
As the awareness and enlightenment campaign kicked off for the siting of the propject in Itu local government area by the Federal Government, the state government officials tacitly avoided it like AIDS.
NAEC which began the enlightenment campaign on the proposed project in Uyo on Thursday, had “Sustainable and Reliable Energy for Economic Growth” as a theme of the enlightenment campaign.
Mr Etetim Onuk, the Itu local government area Chairman, expressed deep concerns and fears over the proposed siting of a nuclear energy power project in Oku Iboku Community, by the NAEC.
Onuk said though it was gratifying that Itu was remembered in the scheme of things, it was disheartening to note that the nuclear plant proposed to be built in Itu Local Government was not without grave dangers to the residents.
“Without sounding immodest, let me state emphatically that from the conception of this idea to site a nuclear plant in some parts of Itu Local Government Area, the elders, stakeholders, traditional ruler and the political class had risen in unison to oppose it.
“As we all know, Akwa Ibom State is a major oil and gas producing community, as such the Federal Government should be thinking of establishing refineries and gas turbines, instead of introducing anti-people projects,” Onuk said.
Towing the same line, Prof. Okon Ansa of Itu Concerned Patriot, said that the concern of the people was problems of safe storage of waste material.
In his paper, Ansa, a one-time state commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, said in case of accident inn nuclear plant, the country has no ability to manage the emergency crisis that may emanate from the nuclear plant.
He added that the establishment of nuclear plant would pose threat to national security because the nuclear plant materials could enter wrong hands.
According to him, the establishment of nuclear plant in the community would hindered the livelihood of the people which is fishing and farming.
“Notwithstanding the numerous advantages of generating power from a nuclear plant as canvassed by NAEC in this enlightenment campaign.
“We feel very strongly and professionally that it will be counter productive to site such a plant in the State in view of the aforementioned issues.
“It is necessary to note that no matter the correctness of technical, economic and legal considerations in the sitting of any project.
“The granting of social licence (acceptance) by the people is paramount for project sustainability.
“We strongly believe that we are speaking the minds of Akwa Ibom citizens in this submission and posterity will exonerate us from blame for the negative consequences of any inadvertent nuclear disaster,” Ansa said.
But, Ubong Okokon, the clan head of Oku Iboku, urged the Federal Government to bring the plant because “if we don’t take a risk now, others would leave us behind.”
Ubong, who had the support of some selected youths from the area, told the NAEC officials that the community would buy into the project because of the expected benefits it would bring to them.
In his remarks, Prof. Matthew Agu, the Project Manager, Nigeria Nuclear Power said that there were numerous benefits of nuclear power plant in a locality.
Agu said that nuclear energy was friendly, safe and cheapest than thermal and solar, stressing that nuclear energy was quite environmental friendly.
“The Nuclear Power Energy industry plays an important role in the social economic growth of the country.
“This ranges from job creation, provision of basic amenities to generation of substantial domestic economic value in electricity sales and revenue.
“A recent analysis has found that nuclear power plants create some of the largest economic benefits compared to other electric generating technologies due to their size and number of workers needed for the operation of the plants.
“Operation of nuclear plant requires 800 to 1,200 direct permanent jobs per reactor,” Agu said.
He explained that the challenge confronting the establishment of nuclear plant in spite of the numerous benefits was people acceptance.
The project manager urged the people of Oku Iboku community and the entire Akwa Ibom people to accept the proposed plant in their community as it would improve on their living standard.
