Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
As part of efforts to seek an end to the country’s energy crisis, Russia has signed a deal to build two nuclear power plants in Nigeria, worth $20 billion.
The deal was reached after a long period of negotiation, with the two countries signing their first intergovernmental nuclear co-operation agreement in 2009.
Sources at the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission revealed that a Russian state-owned company Rosatom will build one in the south, and the other in the centre.
Nigeria hopes the plants, which will initially be operated by Rosatom before they are handed over, will help deal with the country’s energy deficit.
According to World Bank figures, more than 40% of the country was without mains electricity in 2014.
Despite Nigeria being one of Africa’s largest oil producers, much of the country’s oil wealth has been squandered over the years.
Endemic corruption at all levels has left the country out of pocket, and producing a fraction of the energy its 180 million citizens need.
