Femi Kolapo:
Brilliant thoughts and argument. Workable in Nigeria of the next few decades where hopefully there will be a new national order.
In 2012, I carried out a comparative study of national and global responses to natural disasters and focused specifically on the 11th March 2011 Tsunami in Japan and the 26th August 2011flooding in Ibadan area of Nigeria.
It seemed like comparing apples with oranges but the response of each of the nation to national disaster is instructive.
Nigeria had a few days to the 31st year of the 31st August1980 Ogunpa floods to prepare and set up resistance to its recurrence but a half hearted 30 something -year old channelization agenda was still being executed and a ridiculous Safety Nuisance Act had been put in place whereas in Japan several strategic efforts to resist the destruction of earthquakes and tsunamis were firmly in place .
For instance the structure of buildings that were disaster friendly had become the style of construction ,textures of building materials that would minimize injuries, deaths and destruction during such disasters replaced heavy materials, barriers had been constructed along the coast line the country had also invested in prediction studies and the science of disaster predictions.
I have not checked in the last 2years but I am not aware that Nigeria has put in further efforts in preparing for any national disaster.
We have as a matter of fact ignored such issues to higgle and haggle about never-ending political confusion and electoral debates that consistently takes our attention away from the crucial issues the leadership of a nation should focus on for the well being of its nationals.
Another pathetic example is the Ikeja Bomb blast.
It was convenient and inexpensive for the Nigerian government for the Cantonment and Barracks to be blown up by expired bombs that should have been destroyed after the Civil War but were left to detonate one after the other until the entire stockpile exploded!
I could also not believe my ears nor eyes when I "heard and saw",the President of the country ( then )scream a "shut up" at a man who asked what was to become of the dispersed families and what was to be done about the enormous destruction.
Theories and debates may generate interesting discourse but we will be faced with a national crisis a far more deadly than Ebola crisis and its crucial to nip this in the bud. Generating nuclear energy is not the solution to any of Nigeria's problem. If the new president had capabilities of an angel, it would still take a miracle to turn the general attitude of Nigerian leaders and citizens to a positive one. Insolence, indifference and lack of responsibility to duty remains the bane of the life of most Nigerians and Nigeria. Several patients and specifically students have died in university health centres this year because of the lack of sense of response to emergency. I am yet to discover a group of Nigerian engineers who will sacrifice themselves to contain a nuclear disaster. I am not certain such a national spirit permeates our citizenry.
--Dear Abolaji, Bode, Ugo &c.
If it comes down to the vote, I will have to vote for nuclear energy for Nigeria, not because I am not aware of the risks involved, but because the risk involved can and should be a positive tool to use to stand us up on our feet.
Like one of the contributors said, there will be no reinventing the wheel here.This is the more reason why it is feasible and why we should be able to raise the bar higher for ourselves in this and other areas of challenge that face us.
Preliminarily, I see two issues involved. One of management and the other of expertise. In the first instance, we can buy both as unfortunately we have done before, though I believe that a good and sincere effort by the government can mobilize Nigerian expertise within a year or two. As for management, we ultimately have to take charge and, I see no reason why, the challenge and risk of nuclear energy production, if successfully managed by Pakistan and India, should be too much for Nigeria.
Second, it's not the first time we would make an attempt on a nuclear energy program. ABU Zaria in the mid-80s actually started on a federal nuclear development program, its offices moving, if I remember correctly from a temporary site within campus to a more appropriate location on the outskirt of the campus land. I believe that two or three other universities were earmarked for the development of atomic energy, at that time. At least in ABU, the staff initially seem to be all Nigerians, though there might have been agreements with and to use some foreign expertise.
Thirdly and importantly for me, it is a program that does not admit of silliness and necessarily imposes a regime of discipline on the government and on whatever management structure is going to be in charge of it. There can be no room for mismanagement and incompetence.
Lastly and most significantly, if we will go for it, it must call for a democratic practise that is completely higher than we have tried so far. It will awaken the citizenry and put fire in their belly to compel in government a responsibility appropriate and necessary for a nuclear energy producer. There must be a non-governmental body , parallel to government, that has full legal oversight of it. It will be foolhardy to leave it to politicians -whether in government or opposed to government- in their present wanting quality to politric with. As it will impose a dire responsibility of oversight on the citizenry, it gives them power too such that any foolishness on the part of a government in respect of (mis)handling the program as to endanger the country and the region would be cause enough to kick them out and lock up all their membership.
Lastly lastly, these programs are run under fairly standard but strict International Atomic Energy Agency protocols, especially when it comes to the two thirds world.
We will benefit from such compulsion to get us up and running in Nigeria. We just have to start doing things or we will never be able to do them, risky as they may be. I understand the concerns and the reality of the acute danger given our history of inefficient governments, but it saddens me that we should let this get us into a frame of mind to foreclose our aspiring to big bold vision.
I want to believe that if we poll the youth, who are the majority Nigerians and who have the most stake in all this, they will be less fearful and more daring. Its the nature of youthfulness, the reason for the sake of progress why we need more of our youth in government and other positions where they can push forward bold dashing ideas - including in politics. We older ones can then try to temper their positions a bit, and together we can move forward rather than idle or retrogress as the case has been for Nigeria for quite a while now. We must raise the bar higher for ourselves. We should not accept that our governments should remain mired in utter inefficiency and corruption. We need to be able to think of ways to make our governments and institutions answerable to us and to our dreams. I will vote for it, but will also be ready to hold everybody accountable to their responsibility regarding its efficient functioning.
Femi Kolapo
Bode, which of our Universities has made any significant mark in the
cure or treatment of malaria and sickle cell?
Universities lead innovation and even commercialise such innovations.
While I do not expect Nigerian Universities to reinvent the wheel;
they can make it spin just a little faster.
I am as alarmed as anybody on the issue of Nuclear power generation.
If we cannot maintain turbines in our HEP dams how on earth are we
going to achieve this quantum leap? With local terror and myriad
ethnic militias have we weighed the threat of sabotage?
On 6/22/15, Soni Oyekan <sonioyekan@gmail.com> wrote:
> I share strongly the sense of alarm and significant disbelief at the
> considerations by some to use nuclear energy in Nigeria at this time. We
> have not demonstrated that we can effectively. safely and profitably run
> oil refineries, reliable power plants and have no manufacturing base by
> global standards. We also have a weak to non existent national safety and
> environmental oversight agency with no clout. Review the massive
> environmental pollution in the oil producing areas of the country.
>
> We are not in a position to run nuclear reactors and we have to be quite
> blunt to save our country from any potential nuclear disaster that could
> kill thousands of Nigerians and leave generations contaminated with
> radioactive materials. Please review the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in
> Russia and the nuclear disaster that was partially contained by Japanese
> engineers who sacrificed themselves for their fellow Japanese by working to
> contain radioactive materials when the Tsunami hit Japan.
>
> Yes, I agree with all who are stunned, concerned and wish to safeguard our
> fellow Nigerians from potential nuclear disasters. We might get there some
> decades later after we get our manufacturing base in order. We are
> definitely not there as yet and please let us always as engineers consider
> the welfare of millions of Nigerians.
>
> Soni Oyekan, PhD
> President/CEO
> Prafis Energy Solutions
> Richmond, TX
>
> On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 4:14 PM, Victor Okafor <vokafor@emich.edu> wrote:
>
>> Doyin:
>>
>>
>> Given Nigeria's bureaucracy's general ineptitude, its ineffectual though
>> constitutionally-stipulated system of checks and balances, your sense of
>> alarm is not baseless. I share that sense of alarm, and, unfortunately, I
>> foresee another "Ajaokuta Steel Mill" scenario playing itself out but
>> this
>> time around with unfathomable disastrous potentials. The word "nuclear"
>> should be deleted from Nigeria's planning lexicon.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From: *"DOYIN AGUORU" <doyinaguoru77@gmail.com>
>> *To: *"USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com" <
>> usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
>> *Sent: *Monday, June 22, 2015 4:44:01 PM
>> *Subject: *Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Electricity: Nigeria
>> considers nuclear power
>>
>> This is alarming!
>> The nuclear destruction of the Fukushima plant in Japan in 2011 got the
>> country thinking of alternatives and solar fields were planted.
>> Why will Nigeria that has not the sincerity nor wherewithal to combat
>> national disasters consider the nuclear option in generating energy?
>> On 22 Jun 2015 19:05, "Bode" <ominira@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Ugo. You would think they would try solar first given the
>>> abundance of solar energy to be harvested in that tropical climate. By
>>> the
>>> way, a few businesses and individuals have been harnessing solar
>>> technology
>>> for sometime now, which is by far safer. Why not consolidate those
>>> efforts
>>> into a national program? It just goes to show they are not quite serious
>>> yet.
>>> Bode
>>>
>>> On 6/22/15, 1:40 AM, "Ugo Nwokeji" <ugo@berkeley.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>> This sounds like a badly conceived joke? Here is my reaction to this
>>> news
>>> (below) in another forum:
>>>
>>> "We we don't have any technological achievement of major significance to
>>> our name; we just don't currently have the technical base to embark on
>>> such
>>> a venture at this stage. We have made an absolute mess of the steel
>>> plants
>>> that have gulped tens of billions of dollars in nearly 40 years. We have
>>> not even demonstrated a capacity to tap and harness our God-given
>>> petroleum
>>> resources (foreigners are still responsible for the much of the
>>> technical
>>> capacity in the critical oil gas industry), to run our refineries or to
>>> generate electricity for our people and business. We have not invested
>>> in
>>> solar (despite our abundant sun!), wind and other clean fuels, which are
>>> the future.
>>>
>>> How does anybody now think that nuclear power will solve our problems,
>>> that in spite of these failures and glaring lack of capacity we can
>>> somehow
>>> get this much more sophisticated and immensely dangerous venture right?
>>>
>>> I do not vent or criticize for the mere sake of it. It is a
>>> responsibility to speak up when your seems to jump into a fire. I want
>>> us
>>> to soar to the heights, but we can only get there carefully and in an
>>> orderly fashion. But this whole sounds like April Fool. Are we now to
>>> use
>>> our scarce resources in a venture that our track record and capacity
>>> predict certain failure and danger? It has misplacement of priorities
>>> written all over it.
>>>
>>> I hope the Buhari administration will put a halt to this white elephant
>>> venture of the most macabre type.
>>>
>>> Ugo"
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/185423-nigeria-conducts-drills-to-counter-nuclear-disaster.html
>>>
>>> Nigeria conducts drills to counter nuclear disaster
>>> June 20, 2015
>>> <http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/185423-nigeria-conducts-drills-to-counter-nuclear-disaster.html>Premium
>>> Times <http://www.premiumtimesng.com/author/webmaster>
>>> [image: unnamed (5)]
>>> The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has conducted drills to
>>> deal with nuclear disaster that may arise in the country.
>>>
>>> The NSCDC said Saturday training of officers of the Chemical,
>>> Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit, a specialised unit of the
>>> corps,
>>> had since begun.
>>>
>>> "The specialised unit, established to tackle emergency situations
>>> related
>>> to chemical poisoning and nuclear explosions, has also carried out a
>>> simulation exercise as part of its operational strategy," the corps said
>>> in
>>> a statement.
>>>
>>> The statement, signed by spokesperson Emmanuel Okeh, said simulation
>>> exercise was carried out in collaboration with the International Atomic
>>> Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nigeria Nuclear and Regulatory Agency.
>>>
>>> He said that the theme of simulation, "Transportation accident involving
>>> a radioactive source'', was meant to prepare officials, especially as
>>> Nigeria gears towards the use of nuclear plants to generate electricity.
>>>
>>> "The Commandant-General of the Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin, has also stressed
>>> the importance of the unit, and called for awareness on the destructive
>>> tendencies of nuclear energy if not well managed," he said.
>>>
>>> "We are also doing a lot to sensitise the public on the different
>>> dimensions of crime, which now involves the use of chemicals, bombs and
>>> other dangerous substances," the statement added
>>>
>>> He quoted, Pablo Jerez of the IAEA, as pledging the support of the
>>> agency
>>> to the NSCDC, especially as regards provision of operational tools and
>>> equipment.
>>>
>>> "We are also ready to partner with relevant stakeholders so as to be
>>> able
>>> to prevent and tackle any form of chemical, radiological and nuclear
>>> disaster in the country," he said.
>>> (NAN)
>>>
>>>
>>> *G. Ugo Nwokeji*
>>>
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