IAEA Tasks Nigeria On Projects Implementation

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Nigeria to execute all necessary programmes and projects that will ensure that the country acquired the capability to use nuclear energy for peaceful application.

The IAEA Country Programme Officer for Nigeria, Mr Mulugata Amha made the call during his working visit to Nigeria, a statement said.

The statement was issued Mr Vincent Otu, the Principal Information Officer of the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in Abuja.

It said Amha was in Nigeria to assess the execution of the current programme framework and technical cooperation between Nigeria and the IAEA.

“Since Nigeria is the epicenter and the most populous country in Africa, the successful development and implementation of the nuclear power programme will have a multiplier effect and a source of encouragement for other African countries,’’ the statement quoted the IAEA official as saying.

He urged Nigeria to ensure that counterpart organisations benefitting from the country programme framework (CPF) adhered strictly to the approved work plans and project design specifications.

He said any deviation from approved project designs and work plans would not synchronise with the records and schedules of the IAEA.

According to the statement, the new Country Director of IAEA, Mr Yukiya Amano, observed that the rate of project implementation in relation to the nuclear power programme was low when compared to other African countries with similar programmes.

Amano noted that the agency had approved eight projects per country in a Technical Cooperation (TC) circle after which it phased out those projects for others.

He said the development should not warrant the discontinuation of such projects, adding that benefiting organisations and countries should apply for the extension or continuation of uncompleted projects in future TC circles or seek alternative means of successfully completing such projects.

He stressed that uncompleted or abandoned projects would not advance the developmental needs and objectives of the country.

The country director promised to ensure that all the eight projects in the current Country Programme Framework (CPF) and technical cooperation circle were completed while all uncompleted ones would be extended to the next CPF /technical cooperation circle.

Amah commended Nigeria’s efforts towards the development and deployment of atomic energy for social economic development of the country.

He, however, noted that much still needed to be done, especially the release of counterpart fund by the government for the execution of nuclear power programmes in the country.