President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria would consider investing in nuclear energy as part of efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and adapt to climate change.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, the President made the remarks in his message to rich nations at the COP26.
“We can also invest in nuclear. Though not renewable it is carbon neutral and capable of producing a baseload, constant electricity production on which sustained economic progress can be built,” Buhari said.
“Nigeria is among a handful of African countries exploring nuclear power, with a research reactor already operational.”
Meanwhile, the President asked affluent countries to assist developing countries as the race to achieve net-zero carbon emissions intensifies.
According to Buhari, rich countries have a history of lying about their own climate sustainability progress while demanding poorer countries to make greater sacrifices.
He also advocated for the funding of new fossil fuel projects, notably gas, in Nigeria as the country transitions to cleaner energy sources.
“And we can also learn from our friends in Europe and America who do not always practice what they preach,” the President said.
“We call on them to lift the moratorium they have placed on fossil fuel investments in Africa.
“We cannot easily convert gas flaring – a by-product of the oil industry and Nigeria’s single greatest contributor to greenhouse emissions – to energy production without it.
“There are no such limitations on investment in natural gas power in the West where it is considered a transitional energy source.”
