Year
2014
Abstract
Nigeria in 1995 passed the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act (Act), which established the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in 2001. The Act charges the NNRA with responsibility for nuclear safety and radiological protection regulation and to amongst others advise the Federal Government on nuclear security, safety and radiation protection matters. The NNRA has achieved great success in the regulation of all practices involving the use of ionizing radiation in the Petroleum Industry, Health Sector, Manufacturing Sector, Mining Sector, Education and Research, Agriculture and Water Resources and Research Reactor Operations. This paper discusses Nigeria’s Nuclear Security efforts and achievements. The national legal framework for nuclear security is evolving with the development of new nuclear security and physical security regulations while existing ones are being reviewed in line with global trends. Physical security upgrade of facilities with high-risk nuclear and radioactive material is being implemented and the NNRA has instituted a quarterly inspection exercise for these facilities. Border monitoring and prevention of Illicit Trafficking is being achieved through the installation of radiation portal monitors and training of frontline officers. As a means of securing legacy/disused radioactive sources, a programme for search and secure of orphan sources is ongoing. Some of the legacy/disused radioactive sources have been repatriated while others are being safely stored at a temporary radioactive waste management facility. Through international cooperation, Nigeria is developing capacity for HEU to LEU core conversion for the Nigeria research reactor-1. Nigeria as a Member State of the International Atomic Energy Agency has acceded to several treaties and conventions including the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the International Convention for the suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (ICSANT). In the next phase of her nuclear security efforts, Nigeria is considering the establishment of a Nuclear Security Support Centre; enhance border monitoring and introduction of nuclear security training to the curriculum of security agencies. This paper also discusses the challenges faced in ensuring and enhancing the security of nuclear and other radioactive material in Nigeria.