DG/CEO NNRA PRESENTED WITH GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATION OF RADIOGRAPHERS IN NIGERIA BY INDTN AND NNRA JOINT COMMITTEE

DG/CEO NNRA PRESENTED WITH GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATION OF RADIOGRAPHERS IN NIGERIA BY INDTN AND NNRA JOINT COMMITTEE

In compliance with regulation 16 of the Nigerian Radiation Safety in Industrial Radiography Regulation, 2006 and to achieve the level of Safety and Security desired in a vulnerable environment like Nigeria, the INDTN, supported by NNRA found it expedient to issue Guidelines for Qualification of Radiographers in Nigeria (GD-002-22) with the intention of achieving;

• credible and verifiable means of compliance with Regulations 19 and 29 of the Nigeria Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations, 2003 and Regulation 9(1) of the Nigeria Safety & Security of Radioactive Source Regulations, 2006.
• appropriate content on radiation safety in the qualification scheme for industrial radiographers and improve the safety of industrial radiography practice in Nigeria.
• means for monitoring activities of radiographers and industrial radiography
• appropriate means to regulate contract radiographers
• appropriate recognition to the proposed radiographer qualification

After series of meetings and review of the draft document, the NNRA and INDTN Joint Committee on 12^th May, 2023 presented the DG/CEO NNRA Dr. Yau Idris with the final document of the “Guidelines for Qualification of Industrial Radiographers in Nigeria” for consideration and ratification at the NNRA Headquarters, Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the DG/CEO NNRA, the General Manager, Nuclear Safety and Security Department, Dr. Nasiru Bello during the visit commended the effort of the Committee for putting in hard work towards ensuring the development of the Guidelines, which he said, will improve safety in the use of ionizing radiation for industrial radiography in Nigeria. He reiterated NNRA’s continual support to provide assistance where necessary to ensure the smooth implementation of the document.

The President of INDTN, Dr. Michael A. Adegbite in his remarks stated that it is important to make it mandatory for radiographers to pass Examination in radiation safety before being allowed to practice so as not to fall short of international best practices as recommended in IAEA Specific Safety Guide No. 11. He added that individuals making use of ionizing radiation need to be appropriately qualified by training and experience for the interest of public safety and environmental protection. He thanked the DG/CEO NNRA for his support and the Authority’s role in working far beyond duty call to ensure quality in the drafting of these Guidelines.

The document was then presented to the representative of the DG/CEO NNRA by the Coordinator of the Committee, Mr. Farouq Ingawa and for consideration and approval.