Nigeria has no need at this sate of our development, to pursue energy from nuclear sources. Our vast gas reserves, coupled with Associated gas from oil drilling is enough to meet not only our electricity needs, but the entire West Africa sub-region. In fact, we flare over two billion cubic feet of gas daily. Recently, President of Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi at the NGA's 2nd quarter business forum in Abuja, said that Nigeria lost about $72 billion to gas flaring at an average of $2.5 billion per annum between 1970 and 2006. If we cannot tap the vast gas resources by investing in a controlled combustion in gas turbine to generate electricity, how can we control the radioactive ingredients in nuclear power plant? In spite of all the technological advances in the USA, they have not built any new nuclear power plant close to 3 decades now. And If Obama wins, the prospect of building any will not materialize for now. If any one is in doubt of the dangers of nuclear waste, google what is happening to nuclear wastes France generates or go to www.greenpeace.org.

Well,

I would not mind being the voice that cries out in the wilderness on this issue. The idea of an electro-nuclear programme is a very bad one at this stage in our development. Again, those proposing this idea should BEWARE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE TROUBLE THAN WE CAN HANDLE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. OGA YAR'ADUA, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT DO THIS. AT THIS STAGE IN OUR DEVELOPMENT, IT IS VERY UNSAFE. IT IS LIKE A CHILD PLAYING WITH FIRE. I HAVE HEARD THE IGBOS QUOTE THE WORDS OF THE CHICK CAPTURED BY A KITE: "I AM CRYING OUT NOT THAT WHAT IS HOLDING ME WOULD RELEASE ME, BUT THAT MY VOICE MAY BE A WARNING TO THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD ME OF WHAT MAY BECOME OF THEM." I KNOW THIS GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO LISTEN, BUT LET IT NOT BE SAID THAT NO ONE SPOKE OUT, WHEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS DECISION COME HOME TO ROOST!! AGAIN, IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, OLORUN OLODUMARE, CHUKWU, GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE GODS OF ALL OUR NIGERIAN ANCESTORS, DO NOT DO THIS, I PRAY AND BEG YOU. WHERE THE HECK IS TAI SOLARIN WHEN YOU NEED HIM?

Hey buddy, relax. You drink too much palm wine too much. Or is too much okra u na chop?

There was a time that whisky was said to be too strong for the mind of the African native.

Some may think that driving a car is too dangerous for the African.

Have no fear: Nigeria will not call upon you to design a nuclear plant for the people. There are many Nigerians/Africans well-versed in that area. Some even teach nuclear engineering design courses in leading western universities and some in Nigeria's diaspora work in the area.

Tell us this, yeye man - what proportion of Americans or Europeans really know how nuclear energy is produced? How many can design a nuclear power generating plant? [Hint: Don't pick a figure greater that 1%]

At the risk of being provocative it must be said that Kessyjc is an articulate voice of the 'Africa and Africans' of yesteryear,and gives expression to the fears doubts insecurities and complexes of a 'colonilized mindset'He inhabits a world in which we Africans are persuaded that we are incapable of addressing our needs or running our own affairs without guidance from others and that we have some unique flaw which somehow prevents us from commanding and directing our own destiny....And it is this distorted and warped perception that the process of our mental, Cultural Political and economic decolinzation must address. The drive by nigeria to ensure energy security on our terms is but the first, albeit, significant step in taking 'Authoritative Command of our destiny'..... Of course we must and will go nuclear. The development and deployment of nuclear energy and power is but one of the strands in the complex tapestry of 'our energy security objectives' which in turn, feeds directly into the process of 'Transforming our 'Peoples and Lands'. We Africans of today know that this is our moment, we are at a critical and seminal juncture in our History and I am proud that Nigeria, the other nations of Africa and the AU are begining to assume responsibility for the destiny of 'our Continent, Our Lands and Our Peoples' As Always 'The Zima'W3

Neither should we always use the "either/or" reasoning everytime anyone questions us.We Africans are able to do many things but we resort to the cheap "colonization excuse" when confronted with challenges. Nigeria as a giant in Africa has squandered so many opportunities in the past that it's quite reasonable to question its ability to manage a nuclear program.For instance, with all its oil and other natural resources,Nigeria is neither able to secure them nor provide refinery capacity to the west african market and as a result we import refined oil. You need to convince us that if you can't do little,you will be up to greater challenges such as nuclear power. Corruption is another story...

Jesus and John the Baptizer also did not know what the heck they were talking about. In the eyes of some of their fellows they were crazy. According to the Christians, the same things happened to the prophets sent to warn Israel, and, of course, also to Socrates.

But, my fellows, history proved all of them--these crazies--right. Of course, it is only time that will tell who is right, but, Ogun knows that, by then, it would be too late to turn back the tide.

And Sorry chokro, I no dey drink anything wey de enter for head and for eye; so derefore, I no be yeye an'I no be drinkard. Besides, ewedu and amala--not okro-are my preferences.

for ZIM 4, I am not a colonialist, nor do I have any inkling of what may be called a colonialist ideology. I also do not suffer from paranoia.

My Igbo friends translated some lines of a music from the great Mike Ejeagha for me. They said it goes this way in English: The ram once called his children and asked them how many times it would take them to learn from experience. The wise one answered that he learns not from what has happened to him alone but from what has happened to others. It is only those who do not know the history of electro-nuclear programmes in other countries that would be basking in the luxury of "you drink too much pammy" and "you be colonialist."

Remember when Dr. Idika kalu (I hope I have the right person) told the powers that be that Nigeria was not in a position to try the kind of economic ideology that Nigerian celebrated economists thought would change our sinking economy? They called him crazy. They said he has colonial mentality. IMF wondered at what Nigeria was up to and we dismissed IMF as holding us back. It only took three months for Babangida and all of Nigeria to know that Kalu Idika Kalu was right. What was the result of what we did? Our economy was completely broke in one single swoop and we are still paying for that mistake today. So call me whatever name you choose, it is only time and history that will tell in this regard.

We have other sources of energy that have not been tapped. These are cheaper, safer, and within our own reach, yet we have not even explored them.

WE ARE NOW IN THE NUCLEAR AGE,AND WE CANNOT ISOLATE NIGERIA.WHY ARE THE G8 WORRIED ABOUT OUR OPTING FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY? THE GOVT HAS SELECTED 13 UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO STUDY THE NUCLEAR OPTION.THIS IS THE TREND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.ALL OF THE G8 NATIONS HAVE THE NUCLEAR ENERGY TO SUPPORT THEIR ENERGY PROGRAMS WHY CAN"T WE DO THE SAME?.AFTER ALL,WHEN USA STARTED THEIR NUCLEAR OPTION THEY HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.IT WAS ONLY ONE UNIVERSITY (COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY) THAT DID THE STUDY FOR THEM.IN OUR CASE.WE HAVE !3UNIVERSITIES DOING THE STUDY.WITH THE CLIMATE WARMING,EMPHASIS IS NOW SHIFTING TO NUCLEAR,AND SOLAR ENERGIES,AND WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE TREND.

The basic difficulty of discussing anything about Nigeria here on the Web is the want of expertise on the part of those who contribute. Most views tend to be more emotively inclined. Would that there would be some honest to God scholarly discussions on issues that affect our country-- with the facts presented--so that those who think they have something to say would know the very reasons behind arguments that are being made and judge arguments on their values and merits--based on known or projected facts. As it is, having any sensible discussion on these pages is like trying to convince my illiterate grand father who has been watching Zebrudaya all his life that Brady Pitts is a better known actor (internationally) than Jegede Sokoya.

Please, Mr. President Yar'adua, when you think about building nuclear plants, do not forget to build one in Katsina and in the villages of all the people who have supported it here. If at all you can read this and happen to understand English, please, do not bring it anywhere close to my home state or region.

As someone said in these pages in the past, worrying about Nigeria can make one forget that he has other important obligations--like wife and children--to attend to.

I surrender and hang my pen. God bless our dear country!!

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