NNRA AND IAEA STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION ON NORM MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

NNRA AND IAEA STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION ON NORM MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

On the final day of the 70th Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference which took place in September 2026 in Vienna, Austria the DG/CEO of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr. Yau Usman Idris, participated in discussions with the Head of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety Mr Hildegarde Vandenhove.

The meeting focused on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), with discussions covering plans for NORM management activities in Nigeria and strategies to strengthen the country’s regulatory infrastructure. The IAEA reaffirmed its readiness to provide technical support to Nigeria in advancing NORM management and strengthening radiation safety practices.

The NNRA established 25 years ago in 2001  by the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act 19 of 1995 (the Act) is the sole Nuclear Regulatory Body in Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Security and Radiological Protection Regulations so as to ensure protection of life, health, properties and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

The NNRA is established to comply with the pre-condition given by the international community spearheaded by the IAEA for allowing Nigeria to commission and operate its Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor (NiRR-1) located at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State. The NiRR-1 was licensed by NNRA in 2004 and has been in operation since then without any major incident as a result of stringent oversight by both the NNRA and the IAEA.

Apart from oversight of NiRR-1, the NNRA inspects and licenses tens of thousand activities and facilities using nuclear and radioactive materials and ionizing radiation generating equipment in key sectors of the Nigerian economy which includes Petroleum and Gas, Health, Mining, Manufacturing, Construction Industry, Agriculture and Water Resources, Education and Research and Customs and Security Screening.