A top governorship aspirant under the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC), Pharm. Aliyu Zakari Jiya has kicked against the proposed establishment of a nuclear power plant in Kogi State.
In a chat with Kogireports today, Pharm Zakari stated in unequivocal terms that Kogi state is not prepared to host the nuclear state because of the high risks associated with the venture.
The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), which announced the development in Abuja that Kogi and Akwa Ibom states are the preferred sites for the proposed nuclear plants. Nigeria plans to generate 1,200MW from first nuclear power plant in 2025 and increase to 4,800MW in 2035.
But Zakari Jiya, a Pharmacist cum businessman, strongly condemned the decision to locate the plant in Kogi State citing past unfavourable incidents in Japan, and Russia as reasons for his stance.
Pharm Jiya said host communities may be affected by severe consequences of radioactive fall out and mis-management and disposal of nuclear waste. He harped on the consequences of radioactive exposure like in Hiroshima and Nagasaki while also considering radioactive accidents giving instances of fukushima in Japan and Chinobyl nuclear disaster in Russia.
“As hosts to the nuclear plant, Kogi state might be faced with incidences of cancers and mutations in genes”, he added.
