Nigerians have been reassured about the security of nuclear and other radioactive material in their country by Dr. Yau Idris, the director general of the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).According to the head of NNRA, Nigeria has had multiple assessments and drafts regarding the transportation of radioactive material inside the nation over the years.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will, however, be providing feedback on the most recent draft that was submitted to them at the workshop.
According to him, the ultimate goal is to have a flawless document that governs the use and transportation of radioactive material throughout the nation through regulatory control initiatives.
Dr. Idris made this statement today in Abuja at the commencement of the four-day National Workshop on the Review of the Draft Nigerian Transport Security of Radioactive Material Regulations, which was attended by Mr. Mattias Vyonku, General Manager Administration Human Resources, NNRA.
According to Dr. Idris, it is important to note that Nigeria and the IAEA have been working together to implement the INSSP's activities since 2010. The goal of this collaboration is to develop a nuclear security regime that is both effective and sustainable by offering a comprehensive framework for reviewing existing regimes, highlighting areas that require strengthening, and highlighting areas in which assistance may be required.
Speaking further, he disclosed that reviewing and compiling pertinent provisions in Nigeria's transport security regulations in accordance with the Nuclear Security Series No. 9 (NSS 9) - Implementing Guide on Security in the Transport of Radioactive Material was one of the elements of the 2016 and 2019 Nigerian INSSP Implementation Plan under functional area 3(D).
"In order to make the transport security provisions of the draft reviewed Nigeria Safety and Security of Radioactive Material Regulations a stand-alone Regulation, the NNRA, in partnership with the IAEA, organized a five-day National Workshop on "Transport Security Regulations for Radioactive Material in Nigeria" in November 2019 in response to the INSSP Mission. As a result, the "Draft Nigerian Transport Security of Radioactive Material Regulations" were created in 2022. The IAEA assessed these and made the necessary revisions, comments, and recommendations.
Furthermore, in July 2023, Nigeria completed its inaugural International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Mission, with a review of Transport Security as one of the modules. He finished.
Mr. Jinho Chung, Division of Nuclear Security, IAEA, stated in his remarks that the NNRA had developed a regulation on transport security and that the IAEA had reviewed it thoroughly from a legal and technical standpoint. Through this workshop, the IAEA will provide NNRA with feedback on legal and technical issues as well as work to finalize and consolidate the draft regulations.
Speaking on Nigeria's compliance with the protocol, Mr. Chung said, "We found from the reviews that the country's current regulations are of a higher caliber than those of other countries, particularly when it comes to handling radioactive materials."
In his remarks, Mr. David Ladsous of the French Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety added that the law will ensure that radioactive material is utilized securely in all contexts—medical, peaceful, or industrial.
"Radioactive materials must be transported from hospitals, airports, and harbors in order to be used, and it is crucial to ensure that there are no risks involved in the transit process. The primary goal of these regulations is to safeguard the information from terrorist attacks, malevolent acts, and advisories attempting to obtain and exploit it against the populace. It is acceptable to state that Nigeria has the best regulations in the region.
In delivering his message of goodwill, the Inspector General of Police, through DSP Ekwo Samuel, informed EOD officers that they had received training from NNRA on how to operate and maintain radiation regulation equipment.