ACTING HEAD OF NIRPR IBADAN SUBMITS THE INSTITUTE’S PROGRESS REPORT TO THE DG NNRA

ACTING HEAD OF NIRPR IBADAN SUBMITS THE INSTITUTE’S PROGRESS REPORT TO THE DG NNRA

The DG/CEO of NNRA Dr. Yau Idris received the Acting Head of the National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research, Ibadan (NIRPR), Dr. Samuel Oyeyemi in his office in Abuja on 27th May, 2021. The visit was primarily to brief the DG and submit the progress report of the Institute as at May 2021.

The Institute is a technical support arm of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and is responsible for training, research, safety, security and radiation protection in the country while ensuring best practices that meets with the international standards in the peaceful application of nuclear energy.

Oyeyemi while speaking enumerated the progress made so far by the Institute. He said the institute collaborated with the IAEA to resuscitate the OB2 (Co-6o irradiator) and OB6 (Cesium 137 irradiator that was down with shutter closure since 2008, by replacing the faulty solenoid through an IAEA Technical Project. These irradiators are currently in good working condition and are being used for calibration purposes with Cesium 137 gamma source from OB6.

He further said that the Institute has developed a Guidance Document based on provisions of ACT 19, 1995, Nigerian Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulation (NIBIRR) 2003 and Other Practice Specific Regulations. The objective is to develop a Guide and document the activities of the Institute that will serve as an operational tool for the Authority and its clients.

He stated that the Institute also participated in the IAEA Dose Audit Service for SSDL Radiotherapy and said the RPDLs received from IAEA were exposed to 2GY with gamma beam X200 manufactured by best Theratronic and returned for dose assessment.

He then mentioned that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was entered into with the University of Ibadan since 2008 has been reviewed and duly signed by both parties.

Dr. Oyeyemi mentioned also that the institute has scheduled Radiation Safety Officers training for medical facilities in the country. The training, he stated, is targeted at Nigerians working in the medical facilities using radiation sources such as X-Ray, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy.

He concluded that a ten minutes documentary on the activities of the SSDL and Environmental Monitoring lab of NIRPR was developed by the Institute to project and promote the image of NNRA through the Technical Support Organization of the Authority. “The documentary can be viewed on the NNRA website”, he said.

The DG thanked Oyeyemi for keeping the Authority abreast of the activities of the Institute. He commended the effort of the Institute in delivering their responsibilities as mandated by the Authority. He pledged his utmost support to the Institute to ensure they achieve the set goals of their establishment.