ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper analyzes economic, environmental and social problems that have a certain impact on the development of nuclear energy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It considers the political structure of the country, the demographic and religious characteristics of the population, the environment, the general state of the economy, agriculture and industry of Nigeria. Particular attention is paid to the oil industry of Nigeria as nowadays it is currently the most developed industry in the state which provides the country with OPEC membership. The work shows that the country lacks energy capacities for the sustainable development of the economy. To solve this problem hydroelectric power plants are being designed on the Niger River, as well as thermal power plants operating on gas produced in the Niger delta, the construction of nuclear power plants is planned. Currently, the country's population is 201 million people and its number continues to grow rapidly. Therefore, the government decides to put into operation two nuclear power plants for the further development of industry and agriculture. However, both the construction of the NPP and its operation are hindered by military conflicts that very often arise in Nigeria on a different basis: political, interfaith, interethnic and economic. It is quite difficult to carry out both the construction of radiation hazardous facilities and their operation in such conditions.There is a need to take increased security measures for physical protection of both specialists involved in the construction of radiation-hazardous facilities and directly the facilities themselves.