Nigeria’s electricty generation and distribution will significantly experience a boost following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on nuclear energy with the People’s Republic of China, Minister of Foreign Affairs said in Beijing.
The Minister Yusuf Tuggar who is one of the officials on President Bola Tinubu’s trip to the Chinese capital explained that the head of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) is expected to sign the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government.
“It will help to stabilize electricity in Nigeria and of course, the technology itself, nuclear technology or atomic depending on how you look at it, whether it is nuclear fission or nuclear fusion,” Tuggar said.
Excerpts of interview:
Give us an idea of the MoU being signed here?
There are quite a number of agreements that are being signed since Mr. President has been here in Beijing. Today, of course, there was the State visit with President Xi Jinping, and before the two leaders, we had the Minister for Burget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) mostly to do with infrastructure development and support for the Nigerian economy, and of course, the Belt and Road initiative.
As you know, the Belt and Road initiative is China’s modern-day Silk Road connecting countries, people, and economies through rails, roads, electricity lines, and fiber optic cabling so that trade will flourish, and there will be easier movement of goods, people, and services.
This is the Chinese approach and this is something also that fits into Nigeria’s aspirations and Africa’s aspirations because, we are all working on a common – ECOWAS, a common market within the Western African region, and then, on Africa – the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
I signed one of them on behalf of the Nigerian Temevision Authority (NTA), because, of course, the Minister of Information Mohammed Idris is away in Indonesia. I stepped in to sign a very important agreement for collaboration between NTA and the Chinese News Network. I signed three to do with communication- digital communication.
We expect more to be signed. All be it not in front of the two leaders. There is an agreement on sharenuts peanuts – groundnut for export. Phytosanitary is supposed to be signing that. Already, two State governors, Lagos and Kaduna have signed agreements. Kaduna signed at Hwawei when Mr. President visited Hwawei.
The company is also proposing to build two major centers for data storage, for technology in Nigeria. It will provide a lot of opportunities for young people in the country. The governor of Lagos State signed a bridge construction agreement when Mr. President visited China Construction Engineering Company (CCEC). This is a company that has been doing a lot in Nigeria.
CCEC in Abuja is one that built the games village, they have done a lot of construction work. They built the National Communication Commission (NCC), the building that houses them. And several other projects across Nigeria.
How many MoU have been signed in total?
“The MoU are meant to be 15. The challenge that we are having now is on the Chinese side because they have this FOCAC, they have invited the whole of Africa. They are having challenges to conclude preparations on their side. But what we have ready to go is 15 agreements. Don’t forget that there are two other documents.
There is one, which is a communique that is to be released. I dont know if they have released it. I would have wanted to wait until the Chinese side releases it before we speak to it, which is essentially a summary of the discussion between the two leaders.
What does an agreement on nuclear energy means?
“That is one also that is to be signed. The head of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) is here. He is either going sign or I will sign on his behalf. That would mean electricity, that you could mean barges with nuclear energy that will be supplying the grid and there will be so many of them. So, it will help to stabilize electricity in Nigeria and of course, the technology itself, nuclear technology or atomic depending on how you look at it, whether it is nuclear fission or nuclear fusion.
“Its something that we have to look at it and learn, we need to harness because it has a lot of applications. Apart from electricity, a lot of it is also used in medicine. Radiology, these are things that already Nigerian institutions are doing a lot of research on. I know that ABU Zaria has one, and I think that several other learning institutions are working on it.
What is the tangible benefit of this?
All of these take us to the upgrade that we have been talking about and that President Xi Jinping asked for since last year. Upgrade between China and Nigeria from a strategic one to a comprehensive strategic partnership. That is what we have so, all the sectors, they want to invest more in Nigeria, they want to invest more in infrastructure which will create jobs, a lot of potentials, and stimulate the economy.
They also want tbe people to people contact. Cultural exchanges, they want to support with trainings. They say that they want to be buying more from us. This is why we are talking about shell peanuts and stuff like that.
They want to buy more of our finished products. So, they are very serious about Nigeria. We are their second largest trading partner in Africa. We are only behind South Africa. Trade volume is about $23billion, they want to do more so, Nigeria is set to become the number trading partner with China.
