- Title: NIGERIA: New IAEA chief in talks with Nigeria over nuclear plant
- Date: 15th December 2009
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 14, 2009) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) YUKIYA AMANO, IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL SHAKING HANDS WITH NIGERIAN VICE PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND SITTING DOWN YUKIYA AMANO SEATED VARIOUS OF IAEA DELEGATES AND NIGERIAN COUNTERPARTS SITTING AT MEETING WIDE OF MEETING VENUE AMANO AND GOODLUCK POSSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) YUKIYA AMANO, DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAYING: "I have discused the future cooporation between your country (Nigeria) and IAEA, on the Nuclear power, especially the infrastructure to support the Nuclear power programmes, I also discussed the cooporation on cancer therapy programme." AMANO AND DELEGATES WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 30th December 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: International Relations,Energy
- Reuters ID: LVA3FWTPZJFMPI9BNOXUIXIGYTY5
- Story Text: The new head of the Internatonal Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made Nigeria his first port of call since taking up his post.
Yukiya Amano met the country's Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and spoke of Nigeria's plans to develop its first nuclear power plant.
The facility could provide much needed electricity to sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy.
Amano also discuss cooperation with Nigeria on cancer therapy but did not publicly comment on any international matters.
Diplomats and analysts say the trip is the first stage of Amano's efforts to heal differences between mainly Western industrialised countries and developing nations, a split which has hampered a united response to Iran's nuclear programme.
"I made Nigeria my first port of call because Nigeria is a very important country in Africa," Amano told reporters.
Amano will visit a nuclear technology centre and hospital around Abuja on Tuesday to highlight peaceful uses of the atom.
Although the country is Africa's biggest energy producer, most Nigerians go without mains electricity for weeks, leaving neighbourhoods without private generators in darkness every night and heightening frustration among its 140 million people.
The world's eighth largest oil exporter has spent billions of dollars over the past decade to resolve its power crisis, but residents have seen little improvement due to mismanagement and corruption.
Nigerian Science and Technology Minister Alhassan Bako Zaku said Russia agreed to help Nigeria's nuclear ambitions, which were still at an early stage.StoryThe new head of the Internatonal Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made Nigeria his first port of call since taking up his post.
Yukiya Amano met the country's Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and spoke of Nigeria's plans to develop its first nuclear power plant.
The facility could provide much needed electricity to sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy.
Amano also discuss cooperation with Nigeria on cancer therapy but did not publicly comment on any international matters.
Diplomats and analysts say the trip is the first stage of Amano's efforts to heal differences between mainly Western industrialised countries and developing nations, a split which has hampered a united response to Iran's nuclear programme.
"I made Nigeria my first port of call because Nigeria is a very important country in Africa," Amano told reporters.
Amano will visit a nuclear technology centre and hospital around Abuja on Tuesday to highlight peaceful uses of the atom.
Although the country is Africa's biggest energy producer, most Nigerians go without mains electricity for weeks, leaving neighbourhoods without private generators in darkness every night and heightening frustration among its 140 million people.
The world's eighth largest oil exporter has spent billions of dollars over the past decade to resolve its power crisis, but residents have seen little improvement due to mismanagement and corruption.
Nigerian Science and Technology Minister Alhassan Bako Zaku said Russia agreed to help Nigeria's nuclear ambitions, which were still at an early stage. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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