NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NUCLEAR SECURITY DETECTION ARCHITECTURE (NSDA) STRATEGY AND DESIGN PLAN FOR NUCLEAR AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OUT OF REGULATORY CONTROL (MORC), October 2019.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NUCLEAR SECURITY DETECTION ARCHITECTURE (NSDA) STRATEGY AND DESIGN PLAN FOR NUCLEAR AND OTHER RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OUT OF REGULATORY CONTROL (MORC), October 2019.

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is organizing a National workshop on Nuclear Security Detection Strategy, Design and Planning for Material Out of Regulatory Control (MORC) from the 21^st to 26^th October 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The objective of the workshop is to train National stakeholders on the development of a risk informed National Nuclear Security Detection Architecture (NSDA) Strategy and Design Plan that is based on a broader national security context.  It also intends to introduce an integrated planning process for NSDA development which will assist stakeholders in updating their concept of operations (CONOPS) and the risk informed National Strategy and Design Plan to include information on strategic goal, functional outcomes, needed and existing capabilities, prioritize list of gaps and overlaps, and description of how capabilities are integrated to achieve the strategic goals of the NSDA.

The Acting DG/CEO of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Usman Idris in his opening remarks welcomed the IAEA Experts and all national stakeholders to the workshop stating that Nigeria recently reviewed her Integrated Nuclear Support Plan (INSSP) and developed the implementation plan with the assistance of the IAEA.

Furthermore, he informed the audience that Nigeria with the support of the IAEA developed the National NSDA roadmap which is currently being implemented. As part of the roadmap, this workshop on the development of a national detection strategy will inform several decisions especially on how best to utilize the limited resources for effective detection of MORC.

He further appreciated the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and US-DOE Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) for their continued support to Nigeria, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for effective coordination of the national stakeholder organizations and to all the stakeholders for their cooperation that has brought Nigeria so far in the development of the National NSDA. 

The IAEA Experts, Dr. Stacy Mui and Mr. Jordan Swarthout both expressed their pleasure working with Nigeria on the NSDA development and implementation. They also appreciated the NNRA for organizing the workshop, involving broader stakeholder organizations and encouraged stakeholders to share their various experiences during the course of the workshop.

Other IAEA Experts present are Lenny Luzza from Malaysia and Douglas Ledingham from the United Kingdom.

The General Manager, Nuclear Safety, Physical Security and Safeguards thanked the Management of the NNRA for providing the platform for the workshop and participants for honoring the invitation which shows their commitment to National Security.

Stakeholder organizations represented at the workshop include Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL, Explosive Ordinance Disposal,  Counter Terrorism Units), Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Army Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Naval Headquarters, Defense Headquarters, Defense Intelligence Service (DIS),  Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Ports Authority(NPA),  Department of State Service (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Fire Service (FFA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).

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