Despite objections from top ranking officials at the US State Department and the Department of Energy (DOE), and without any input from Nigerians who will bear the brunt of any nuclear catastrophe, US President Donald Trump has given the greenlight to the world’s richest man, Elon Musk to build nuclear power plants in Nigeria, Huhuonline.com has learnt from sources at DOE and the State Department, who elected anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue. The sources expressed concern that although the scope of the planned investments is limited to nuclear power plants to generate clean electricity to help ameliorate Nigeria’s power supply challenges, there are no concrete guarantees and security controls that the project will be limited only to power generation, given that Nigeria will be close to the threshold of manufacturing nuclear weapons and becoming a nuclear power, sparking a nuclear proliferation race with countries such as Egypt, Morocco and South Africa.
US sources told Huhuonline.com that Elon Musk, who spent over $300 million to get Trump elected president is cashing-in on his investments, and using Trump to leverage the power of the oval office to strike deals with foreign countries who are seeking to maintain cordial relations with the current Trump administration. A State Department source explained that the nuclear power plants will be financed through a public-private partnership under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) capacity-building program. Asked whether Nigeria has the human capacity and technical expertise to manage nuclear power plants, the source disclosed that “a workshop and series of other capacity-building programs will occur with Nigerian partners in the coming months under the FIRST capacity-building program. FIRST support will advance Nigeria’s consideration of the potential role of advanced nuclear energy technologies in Nigeria’s clean energy mix, consistent with the highest standards of nuclear security, safety, and nonproliferation.”
According to sources, Elon Musk will provide the funds and technical knowhow for the nuclear power plants, Nigeria will provide land and other logistics, while the American government will guarantee Elon’s investment and hold Nigeria accountable in case of default of the terms of the agreement. Elon has vast experience with nuclear power capabilities, as his flagship company, SpaceX was recently awarded a contract by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to launch the Dragonfly mission, which will use a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) as its power source. This is a significant step, as it marks the first time SpaceX will be launching a nuclear-powered payload.
According to experts consulted by Huhuonline.com, the modular nuclear power plants that will be built in Nigeria consists of several key components, including: a nuclear reactor – the heart of the power plant where nuclear fission occurs.; turbines and generators to convert the heat energy produced by the reactor into electrical energy; cooling systems to help manage the heat produced during the fission process, and containment structures to ensure the safety and security of the plant by containing radioactive materials. The nuclear reactor is the core device used to sustain the controlled nuclear chain reaction to produce heat. Its components include: fuel rods to contain nuclear fuel (usually uranium or plutonium) that undergoes fission; control rods to regulate the fission process by absorbing neutrons; a moderator that slows down neutrons to sustain the chain reaction and a coolant that transfers heat away from the reactor core.
DOE sources confirmed to Huhuonline.com that the US through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Net Zero World program has agreed to commit over $1.3 million for clean energy technical support to Nigerian partners involved in the planned project. DOE and its national labs will facilitate this effort for what the source euphemistically described as “clean energy capacity building with Nigeria” through the Net Zero World program. This will include five priority workstreams on methane mitigation from oil and gas sector, total energy sector planning and policy support, a scale up of energy distribution nationally, expanded power sector support, and regional energy market advancement.
To which end, top executives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) are planning two visits to the United States in the coming weeks. The NNPC executives who include: Mele Kyari – Group Managing Director, Umar Ajiya – Chief Financial Officer, Bala Wunti – Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Adokiye Tombomieye – Chief Operating Officer, Upstream and Yusuf Usman – Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, are scheduled to visit Washington, DC on March 15, and March 29, 2025. During these visits, they will hold high-level discussions on the planned nuclear power investments and various energy-related matters and potential collaborations with US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, who has already signaled his support for the project, when he spoke at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington, DC, affirming that Africa must be free to harness its vast energy resources without foreign interference. “This [Trump] government has no desire to tell you what you should do with your energy system,” Wright stated. “It’s a paternalistic, post-colonial attitude that I just can’t stand.”
Ask whether President Bola Tinubu was pressured by Trump and whether Mr. President was aware of the consequences of nuclear power plants on Nigerian soil, and the implications for national security; a source at Aso Rock who elected anonymity told Huhuonline.com that President Tinubu was being “pragmatic.” He explained that following the Trump administration’s proscription of USAID, Nigeria lost over $85 million in technical assistance from the USAID Power Africa’s Nigeria programs, which aimed to improve the delivery and sustainability of electricity services to homes, businesses, and institutions in Nigeria while accelerating Nigeria’s power sector decarbonization. “The President is aware that our energy future must be decided by Nigerians, not dictated by foreign governments pushing policies that undermine our economic potential, so seeking investments in the energy sector, including nuclear energy for peaceful purposes aligns with Nigeria’s goals of leveraging its vast energy resources for economic development,” the source noted.
Huhuonline.com checks revealed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) continues to struggle with a fragile grid that frequently collapses under stress, leading to nationwide blackouts. Distribution companies (Discos), burdened by technical and commercial losses exceeding 40%, are unable to deliver reliable electricity to consumers, forcing over 60% of manufacturing firms to exit the national grid. Successive governments have poured funds into the power sector, yet tangible improvements remain elusive. At the recent unveiling of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, revealed that $32.8 billion is needed between now and 2030 to achieve universal electricity access. Of this amount, $17 billion is expected from the public sector, while $15.8 billion will be sourced from private investors. He did not name the private investors, but it now seems apparent that Elon Musk, whose estimated net worth is $348 billion will be the prime private investor.
Huhuonline.com understands that the Tinubu administration is wary that Trump’s tariffs and aid freeze will likely have significant impacts on oil imports from Nigeria, and have decided to diversify their energy sources. The most recent data from 2023 showed the US imports approximately $4.73 billion worth of crude oil from Nigeria annually. The tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China could lead to higher costs for US importers, which might indirectly affect the demand for Nigerian oil. If US companies face higher costs for other imports, they may reduce their overall spending, including on oil. The tariffs have created uncertainty in the global oil market, leading to fluctuations in oil prices. This could impact the stability of oil imports from Nigeria. The tariffs are also expected to accelerate US inflation, which could reduce consumer spending and overall economic growth, potentially decreasing demand for oil.
The freeze on US foreign aid could have broader economic implications for Nigeria. The aid has been crucial in supporting various sectors, including health, education, and infrastructure. With reduced aid, Nigeria might face budgetary challenges, which could affect its ability to invest in the power and oil sector and maintain production levels. Overall, the combination of tariffs and aid freeze could lead to a decrease in US oil imports from Nigeria, affecting Nigeria’s oil revenue and economic stability
During their visit to Washington, the NNPC delegation will look to strengthen its partnerships with US energy companies and financial institutions to drive innovation and growth in Nigeria’s energy sector. The NNPC executives are expected to discuss financing for gas projects, energy transition plans, and potential investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Nigeria has ambitious energy transition plans, including the development of gas infrastructure and renewable energy projects. The meetings with Secretary Wright will likely focus on securing support and investments for these initiatives.
