Buhari Leaves For Washington Summit, To Reaffirm Nigeria’s Right To Use Nuclear Energy For Development
BEVERLY HILLS, March 29, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja for Washington DC on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 to join President Barack Obama and about 60 other World Leaders and Heads of international organisations at the 4th Nuclear Security Summit which begins on Thursday.
According to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the President will reaffirm Nigeria’s indisputable to harness nuclear energy and technology for socio-economic development.
“At plenary sessions of the summit which is dedicated to reinforcing international commitment to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, President Buhari will insist that while Nigeria will continue to sustain that commitment, world powers must respect the right of other countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for development purposes,” Adesina revealed.
He added that Buhari believes that international efforts to ensure greater security of nuclear materials should maintain a balance between nuclear non-proliferation obligations and the rights to harness nuclear energy and technology for socio-economic development.
“It will be recalled that at a meeting with him in Abuja earlier this month, President Buhari told the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. Yukiya Amano that the Federal Government will welcome greater support from the agency for Nigeria’s aspiration to begin the generation of electricity with nuclear energy.”
Adesina disclosed while in Washington DC for the Nuclear Security Summit, the President and his delegation will also hold bilateral meetings with other participating Heads of Government and high-ranking United States Government officials.
The delegation includes Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and the Director-General of Nigeria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Prof Lawrence Anikwe Dim,
“President Buhari will depart Washington DC for Abuja on Sunday,” he added.
Story by David Oputah