As the Federal Government intensifies efforts to integrate nuclear energy into its broader power sector reforms, energy experts have said Nigeria lacks the technical expertise, infrastructure and regulatory readiness required to absorb such a sophisticated energy system into its electricity value chain.

  The caution follows a statement by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who described nuclear energy as ‘the future of power generation’ during a meeting with the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) in Abuja. 

    Adelabu asserted that nuclear power offers a stable, reliable, and advanced source of electricity, and that Nigeria should begin to realise the returns on years of investment in nuclear development.

  According to the minister, nuclear energy, as a higher-tier power generation technology, has the potential to significantly benefit the country by easing the burdens associated with traditional power generation methods. 

   However, while expressing confidence in its long-term potential, Adelabu cautioned against NAEC’s proposed plan to develop four large-scale nuclear power plants, each with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts. He instead advocated for the adoption of modular nuclear reactors, which he said would better align with Nigeria’s decentralised electricity model.

    Adelabu said: “This is an area where states can benefit. I wish we were there already, but we are not. We must ask ourselves how much of our conventional energy potential we have fully exploited. Nuclear energy has long remained on the periphery, but we must recognise that it represents the future of energy generation.”

    In response to the minister’s remarks, infrastructure expert, Joe Tsavsar, cautioned that Nigeria’s longstanding power supply crisis cannot be solved merely by introducing new energy sources. 

  “The problem of providing adequate and reliable power in Nigeria is not simply about diversifying the energy mix. The core challenge lies in the mismanagement of existing energy sources across the generation, transmission, and distribution chains,” he stated.

   Tsavsar pointed out the absence of reliable data on national energy demand, stating that in such an environment, effective planning and resource allocation remain elusive.  He added that much of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure is outdated, poorly maintained, and undermined by systemic corruption and regulatory inefficiencies.  He argued that although it is technically possible to integrate nuclear technology into the country’s power system, it is not currently feasible. 

   “Nuclear systems require stable electricity to function effectively. How can we support such a system when we lack the foundational capacity?” Tsavsar also raised doubts over the economic viability of nuclear power, citing the substantial capital and operational costs involved. Given Nigeria’s existing fiscal challenges and history of poor project execution, he said nuclear energy poses more risk than reward. He instead recommended increased investment in distributed energy sources such as solar, gas and controversially, clean coal, which he described as more attainable routes to energy security if managed with appropriate environmental safeguards.

   He maintained that the Federal Government’s ambition to derive eight per cent of its energy mix from nuclear is unjustifiable under current circumstances. 
Tsavsar said: “The financial risks are enormous. Securing new loans to finance nuclear projects will only deepen our debt burden. There are also serious health and environmental risks, radiation exposure linked to cancer, and the persistent challenge of safely disposing of nuclear waste.”

    Former Minister of Power and founder of Geometric Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, described nuclear energy as a non-priority in Nigeria’s current development phase, saying: “It’s not a top priority, even though it’s a useful technology. It is often mistakenly considered renewable, which it is not.”

  Nnaji underscored that while nuclear should feature in any comprehensive energy mix for countries with sufficient capacity, it cannot realistically contribute a meaningful share to Nigeria’s energy portfolio. 

   He argued that Nigeria must instead focus on consolidating its thermal and gas-powered generation capacities, which he deemed vital for addressing both immediate and medium-term electricity needs.

   Both experts agreed that without first resolving the sector’s foundational issues, ranging from decaying infrastructure and regulatory lapses to weak institutional governance, any attempt to invest in nuclear power would likely prove counterproductive.