A’Ibom: Lawmaker kicks against establishment of Nuclear plant in Itu LGA

By Vincent Aluu

The member representing Itu State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Hon. Kufreabasi Edidem has told the Federal that the establishment of a Nuclear plant in his constituency will not add to the development of his people and that it is not the immediate need of his people.

Hon. Edidem made this assertion while fielding questions from Journalists shortly after Tuesday’s February 11, 2020 plenary of the 7th Assembly. Edidem Who sponsored a motion AGAINST THE BUILDING OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ITU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, AKWA IBOM STATE, noted that opposition to the location of the nuclear power plant in Itu is not borne out of ignorance of the potential benefits of the project to our people, the state and the nation, but more because of the peculiar experiences in our country and the disastrous consequences in which failure of nuclear plants have brought to even more developed countries.

The Itu Born Lawmaker echoed, “Mr. Speaker, this motion is so dear to my people. I am aware that building a nuclear power plant in Oku Iboku does not conform to International standards guiding the implementation of civil nuclear programs across the globe. Whereas the Technical Impact Assessment at the international level also indicated that nuclear power plant is not suitable for Nigeria for now for obvious reasons. Referenced by the warning from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015 that Nigeria lacks the technical and managerial competence to handle nuclear issues, my people have asked me to reject the siting of a nuclear plant in Itu and that it does in any way reflect their present needs of good road network, adequate health and educational facilities, resuscitation of moribund industries in the zone among other things”.

Hon. Edidem maintained that the trio of Akwa Ibom Leaders Caucus, Concerned Patriots of Itu Local Government Area and Ibom Peoples’ Congress U.S.A., a forum of prominent Akwa Ibom People residing in the United States of America had in different fora written to National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and held press conference rejecting the citing of the Nuclear plant in Itu or any other part of Akwa Ibom State describing it as a “Greek gift”, and “a disaster-in-waiting” for the people. He therefore wonders why that despite the rejection of the nuclear power plant by Akwa Ibom people through the sixth assembly, the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) is not relenting in their decision to proceed with the power plant in Itu Local Government Area.

He also listed the many dangers of having a nuclear plant to include constant emission of radioactive radiations, discharge of non-biodegradable radioactive wastes which will be absorbed into ecosystem thus increasing rate of cancer and genetic mutation. He also said that nuclear wastes generated can be enriched to provide raw materials to terrorists to produce nuclear explosives thereby posing more dangers to the country at large in the face of our Nation’s current security challenges. He reminded the Federal government that Akwa Ibom State with large reserve of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), and located in the tropical rain forest belt; thermal, solar or hydro power plant will be ideal for our State.

Hon. Edidem therefore prayed the 7th Assembly that no part of Akwa Ibom land should be released for the purpose of building a nuclear power plant. The motion was overwhelmingly supported, voted on and referred to the relevant committees of the House for appropriate action.

It will be recalled that sometime in June, 2015, the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) announced plans to build a Nuclear Power Plant in Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The 6th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through a motion moved by Rt. Hon. Nse Essien, member representing Onna State Constituency, rejected the planned nuclear power plant; urging the Federal Government to instead of this dangerous venture; explore other available and harmless sources of power in the State, including increasing the capacity of the Ibom Power Plant.

Also, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an organization formed to encourage the peaceful use of nuclear energy while carrying out its Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Mission in Nigeria observed that Nigeria lacked the grid capacity and quantity, the expertise in licensing reactor design, the policies in nuclear waste management and decommissioning, the insurance arrangement for third party damage, strong cadre of nuclear engineers and scientists among other requirements.

It remains to be seen how the Federal government and the National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) will react to the new development.

One hopes that all parties involved will find a middle ground of compromise.