Nigeria, Russia Sign Nuclear Power Plants Deal

 Nigeria has signed a deal with Russia to build two nuclear power plants in the country, in a bid to end its energy crisis.

 

According to the agreements signed earlier in the week, Russian state-owned company Rosatom is to build the plants in the southern and central regions of the country.

While exact worth of the deal is unknown, reports suggested it was likely to be about $20billion.

Rosatom is said to also be involved in discussions in Ghana and South Africa, but an initial agreement with South Africa to build a plant was ruled unlawful in a court earlier in 2017.

However, the company’s deal in Africa’s largest economy was reached after series of negotiations, with Nigeria and Russia signing their first intergovernmental nuclear cooperation agreement in 2009.

While the plants would initially be operated by Rosatom before they are handed over, the Federal Government hopes they would significantly help to deal with the country’s energy deficit.