Uncategorized
Japan’s nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan extremely irresponsible
By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily
Groups of Japanese citizens recently gathered in front of the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan to protest against Japan’s nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan.
They believe that it is criminal behavior to discharge the wastewater from Fukushima into the ocean.
However, the Japanese government has turned a deaf ear to the authoritative opinions from international organizations and dissenting voices both at home and abroad. It accelerated the construction of relevant facilities, claiming that it would not change its radioactive dumping plan this spring or summer.
The Japanese plan, which ignores the global marine environment and public health, is an extremely irresponsible practice.
It is reported that the wastewater discharge plan could take as long as 30 years. However, Japan has not yet provided ample scientific and factual proof to support the validity of its plan, and has not addressed the international community’s concerns over the legitimacy of the discharge plan, the reliability of data, the efficacy of the treatment devices and the uncertainty of environmental impact.
TEPCO, which is in charge of the plan, has a notorious record of concealing the truth and tampering with information. As early as April and May 2011, it dumped some radioactive water into the ocean, which has long discredited the country.
Kenichi Oshima, a professor at Ryukoku University, noted that TEPCO has only selected a small part of more than 1,000 nuclear wastewater storage tanks for testing in the power plant, and all the tests were done by the company itself without third-party verification.
The American journal Science also pointed out that TEPCO’s explanation lacked adequate evidence and was not trustworthy.
Suh Kune-yull, a professor emeritus of Nuclear Energy System Engineering at Seoul National University, said that digging an artificial lake of 200,000 square meters can fully meet Japan’s demand for dumping wastewater for the next 50 years. Japan could have chosen a better option, yet it has transferred the responsibility it should bear to all humankind, which is tantamount to launching a terrorist attack on the Pacific Ocean.
The marine environment concerns the interests of the entire international community. Discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean is by no means a domestic affair for Japan.
After the dumping plan was announced, multiple countries including China, South Korea, Russia and the Philippines as well as relevant international organizations have expressed their concerns.
The Japanese government and TEPCO had pledged not to dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water without the understanding of the parties concerned, but now they insist on going against their promise.
Secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Henry Puna noted that the Japanese government had promised to stay in communication with Pacific Island countries on this matter and that the PIF would have access to all independent scientific and verifiable scientific evidence. He said that so far, unfortunately, Japan has not been cooperating and that they are breaking the commitment.
New Zealand sociologist Karly Burch from the University of Auckland noted that “Pacific peoples have a fundamental right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. By proceeding with this plan to discharge radioactive wastewater, the Japanese government is showing direct disregard for the sovereignty and self-determination of Pacific peoples.”
The Japanese side should respect the legitimate concerns of the international community, keep its word and dispose of the contaminated water in a responsible manner.
Japan is a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the London Dumping Convention, the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, the Convention on Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. By forcing the discharge plan, the country has seriously breached its obligations under international law.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has neither completed its assessment of Japan’s discharge plan nor drawn concrete conclusions, and all its three reports published so far pointed out the plan’s non-compliance with the agency’s safety standards and made recommendations for improvement.
The disposal of contaminated water spans a long time with many uncertainties. Japan should allow effective international supervision of wastewater discharge. Attempting to solve the problem by simply dumping the wastewater, Japan will never be trusted by the international community.
Over the recent years, the international community has strongly doubted and opposed the wrong unilateral decision of the Japanese government to discharge contaminated water into the ocean. The UN Security Council recently convened an open debate on sea-level rise and its implications for international peace and security, during which representatives from multiple countries voiced criticism of Japan’s steps to advance the discharge plan.
The PIF Special Leaders’ Retreat reiterated that Japan should guide its political decision to discharge treated radioactive wastewater into the ocean with science and data.
Many Japanese citizens also oppose the irresponsible practice of Japan. Over 90 percent of Japanese people believe the discharge would trigger negative results.
The National Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Japan and other civil society groups condemned the government for breaking promises and ignoring fishers’ interests.
The Japanese side ignored the legitimate concerns and appeals of the international society and its people, which will surely be condemned by the international community.
Japan should face up to the legitimate concerns of all parties, faithfully fulfill its international obligations, have full and meaningful consultation with stakeholders, and dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, open, transparent and safe manner, so as to practically protect the marine environment and the health of people from all countries.
Japan must not start discharging the contaminated water into the ocean before reaching a consensus through full consultation with neighboring countries, relevant international agencies and other parties concerned.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)
By Fabian Apechihin
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that petrol prices could rise to ₦5,000 per litre under President Bola Tinubu’s administration if the government fails to address concerns surrounding oil revenues and public spending.
Atiku raised the alarm through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following the latest petrol price increase.
He questioned why Nigerians were paying as much as ₦1,470 per litre when crude oil was trading at approximately $102.52 per barrel.
“With crude oil around $102.52 per barrel, Nigerians are paying as much as N1,470 per litre. In 2008, when crude oil reached about $147 per barrel, petrol sold at N65 per litre under the Yar’Adua administration,” Atiku said.
The former vice president called for a reconciliation of oil revenues and deductions from 2023 to date, arguing that Nigerians should be able to establish how much revenue was generated, what deductions were made before distribution and where the funds eventually went.
“Nigerians deserve accounts they can interrogate, not accounting labels designed to discourage questions,” he said.
Atiku also questioned the use of funds saved following the removal of the petrol subsidy, recalling the government’s earlier assurances that the savings would create room for increased investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
“After all the pain imposed on Nigerians, they have a right to ask: where are the subsidy savings and where is the money?” he asked.
He further called for scrutiny of financial transactions involving the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, OML 143, oil production revenues and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s international liquefied natural gas trading operations.
“These allegations are too serious to be answered with press statements and political insults. Every barrel can be measured, every cargo identified and every legitimate payment traced,” Atiku said.
The former vice president’s remarks come amid continuing public debate over petrol pricing, oil revenue management and the economic impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday hosted the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, in Abuja, in a meeting that has attracted attention amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Neither Atiku nor Aisha publicly disclosed details of their discussions or indicated whether the meeting centred on political matters.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of renewed interest in the Buhari family’s political influence, particularly in Katsina State.
In May, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Sandamu/Daura/Mai’adua Federal Constituency seat in Katsina State. He secured 6,386 votes, defeating Auwal Daura, who polled 322 votes.
The outcome generated considerable interest within political circles in the Daura axis, where the Buhari family has maintained a strong political presence.
Aisha Buhari has also remained active in promoting the legacy of her late husband, who died in London on July 13, 2025.
In July, she described education and human capital development as among Muhammadu Buhari’s most important legacies while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a Computer Science Complex at Al-Qalam University, Katsina.
The project is being financed with proceeds from the book From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, which chronicles the former president’s life and public service.
Aisha said the initiative was aimed at preserving Buhari’s legacy through investment in education, knowledge and innovation rather than through the construction of monuments.
Although the purpose and outcome of Wednesday’s meeting between Atiku and Aisha were not publicly disclosed, the encounter has drawn attention as political actors and groups continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
- As Gov AbdulRazaq Is Turbaned As Sadauna Of Ilorin Emirate
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed the need for politicians to embrace one another, play politics without bitterness and according to the rules in order to ensure an astronomical growth and development for the country.
Shettima made the appeal on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, while admonishing
Nigerians to serve with humility, do good to one another and have forgiving spirit, as they, according to him, would spend more time after office.
He added: “Power is given by God to the people He so wishes and not because we are better than others. I, therefore, call on all politicians to unite themselves as one family despite their political differences.
“Take a cue from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I serve as his assistant. He is a good and decent man who has the love and interest of Nigerians at heart.”
Shettima explained that when they assumed office in 2023, the economy of the country was at the brink of collapse, but President Tinubu refused to pass blame; with courage he accepted both the assets and liabilities and moved on.
He further disclosed that during the 2023 electioneering campaign, only six out of the 19 northern governors supported Tinubu’s presidential aspiration, based on the erroneous belief that Baba (Buhari) didn’t like him, adding: “But today the President has embraced everybody as his own and things are going on well”.
He added: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a good man by all standard; he believes in the people that work with him.”
Shettima also thanked the Emir of Ilorin for the honour done to Governor AbdulRazaq, which , he noted, was based on his contributions to the development of the Ilorin Emirate and the State at large, adding that “the father of the Governor had planted a solid footprint in the Ilorin Emirate and by extension Nigeria as a whole”.
Shettima, who expressed optimism that this new chapter would create a stronger bond between the Emirate and the family of Governor AbdulRazaq, urged the people to continue to pray for the progress and development of the Emirate and the State as a whole.
He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his efforts in the massive improvement on infrastructure to assist the people of the State, as well as for his
contributions to the actualisation of policies and programmes of government at the federal level towards providing succour to average Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Matawaliof Ilorin Emirate, Dr.Alimi AbdulRazaq, said the title of Sardauna bestowed on the Governor was well deserved, thanking the Emir of Ilorin for finding the Governor worthy of the noble recognition by the Emirate.
Dr,Alimi urged the Governor to see the tittle as a clarion call to provide more dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the State.
The turbaning ceremony witnessed large turnout of dignitaries, including the Governor of Niger state, Umar Bago, Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Imo State ,Hope Uzodinma, and Governors of Kebbi ,Katsina States.
Others are the Emir of Zazzau Emirate, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, the Deputy Governors of Sokoto, Anambra, Nasarawa, Delta, Ondo, and Oyo States.
Fuel Price May Hit ₦5,000 Per Litre Under Tinubu — Atiku Warns
2027: Atiku Hosts Aisha Buhari in Abuja Amid Political Realignment
2027: VP Shettima Urges Politicians To Play Politics without Bitterness
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