FG will explore a mix of energy sources to attain power needs

The Federal Government is considering a mix of energy sources to meet the electricity needs of the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said Monday  .

Besides working to improve power generation from the national grid, alternative sources of energy especially renewable, solar and nuclear energy are being actively pursued by the Federal Government.

The Vice President spoke while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission led by its Director-General, Erepamo Osaisai who came to present a report on the Implementation of Nuclear Power Programme for Nigeria, conducted in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The long and short of it is that we definitely need a mix of energy choices because in the next decade such a mix will be imperative,” a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President said after the meeting.

Earlier at the meeting, Dohee Hann, the Director, Nuclear Power at the International Atomic Energy Agency informed the Vice President that Nigeria as Africa’s leading economy needs to consider nuclear energy for electricity in order to address the power deficit.

Osaisai, also disclosed that the presentation of the report to the Vice President was an important stage in the process, emphasizing that the report had articulated how the nation can meet the infrastructural need for nuclear power programme for the country.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo in a related development said the government is urgently moving to bring succor to the people of the North-East whose lives have been affected by the insurgency  in that part of the country.

The Vice President, while receiving the new World Bank Country Director to Nigeria, Rachid Benmessaoud, at the State House Abuja, said “there is the need for immediate action within a short time.  We need to deal with the planning and implementation of the projects that will bring succor to the people of the North-East.”

The World Bank, is providing assistance to the Federal Government for the North-East and the new Country Director pledged the bank’s continued support of the government, while also expressing the hope to work with the new Federal Executive Council in other areas including economic diversification, he added.

 T. Y. Danjuma, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee in the North-East initiative, PCNI, attended the meeting alongside the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun and the Budget and Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma.