NNRA HOLD TALKS WITH NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION

NNRA HOLD TALKS WITH NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION

A tripod meeting was held between the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the Nigeria Customs Services (NSC) and the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMT) on 5^th March, 2021 at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was held to discuss the modalities for the decommissioning of the old 9.2 mev scanner at Apapa due to the construction of rail line in the Port. It was also to discuss the modalities of approving import license and other licenses related to the purchase of 3 new X-ray scanners to be installed at the Port.

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd) in his opening remark, said that the issuance of approval by the NNRA will help in the decongestion of the port, easing business and promoting commercial services thereby generating income for the country. He stated that for that to happen, the rail line will have to pass through the customs building where the X-ray scanner is housed. The meeting was to see how the Nigerian Custom Service can liaise with NNRA in order to fast track the process so as to meet up with the proposed date of commissioning of the rail line project by the President.

The DG/CEO of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris in his remarks welcomed the rail line project and recommended that, to further ease the congestion of the ports, that scanners could also be situated along the rail line for scanning of containers as they are transported out of the sea port. He opined that the Nigerian Custom Service should apply to the NNRA for the Decommissioning Licenses and New Site Permit in order to meet up with the time frame for commissioning.

NNRA has been collaborating with the Nigerian Custom Service for years to ensure that the Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) and baggage scanners are present and functional at all Points of Entry and Exit (POE&E) to detect nuclear, radioactive materials and illicit trafficking in the country.