The Federal Government disclosed that it had successfully obtained a €1 million grant from the European Union to support nuclear safety initiatives in Nigeria.
According to The PUNCH, this announcement was made in Abuja by the Head of Information and Protocol Unit, Ekaette Bassey following a three-day discussion with EU nuclear safety experts who had visited the NNRA.
The talks primarily focused on launching the European Instrument for International Nuclear Safety Cooperation project aimed at enhancing the regulatory framework for nuclear safety in Nigeria.
It said, “The EU experts were in Nigeria to interact with their counterparts in NNRA on the modalities for the implementation of the first bilateral cooperation project on nuclear safety and the safe management of radioactive waste in the country to be supported by a grant from the EU.”
The Director-General of NNRA, expressed gratitude to the European Union for approving the agency’s grant request, which spans two years, from October 1, 2023, to September 31, 2025.
He emphasized that the project’s execution would be closely supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure adherence to international standards and regulations. Idris further noted that a portion of the grant would be allocated for the NNRA to carry out specific aspects of the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission.
“The mission was made up of eight international experts from the United States, France, Argentina, Indonesia, Romania, Lebanon, Slovakia and Pakistan together with NNRA staff and with the assistance of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“They visited facilities with high-risk nuclear and radioactive material, including the Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor, located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
“The goal was to assess Nigeria’s compliance with the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment, Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources as well as the relevant IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications,” Idris stated.
He mentioned that both IAEA missions have determined that Nigeria, under the oversight of the NNRA, has successfully established a robust nuclear safety and security system. This system is currently undergoing substantial enhancement through the revision of legislative and regulatory frameworks, as well as other ongoing initiatives.
“Key issues requiring urgent attention are the passage of the NNRA Bill and its presidential assent and the provision of a permanent headquarter office,” the agency’s boss stated.
He said the EU chose the NNRA for the project based on several positive reports by all the IAEA missions to Nigeria and its leadership in Africa as regards nuclear regulatory activities and competence.
“The project will focus on capacity development and training, enhancing regulatory framework for nuclear safety and ensuring that Nigeria implements the recommendation of all the IAEA missions in respect to its regulatory infrastructure,” Idris stated.
