NNRA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL PHYSICAL PROTECTION ADVISORY SERVICE (IPPAS) MISSION TO NIGERIA, 2023

NNRA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL PHYSICAL PROTECTION ADVISORY SERVICE (IPPAS) MISSION TO NIGERIA, 2023

The Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) organized a four day national workshop on International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) mission to Nigeria from 16^th-18^th May, 2023 at Rockview Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Workshop was requested by the Nigerian Government through the NNRA to have the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts review the country’s Physical Protection Regime and Security Systems for nuclear and other radioactive material as well as associated facilities and compare them with international guidelines and best practices, in particular the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) and the IAEA Nuclear Security Series (NSS), and provide recommendations for improvement.

The Mission also seeks to provide Nigeria’s Experts with essential information to be able to productively and effectively prepare for and conduct an IPPAS mission.

The DG/CEO NNRA in his welcome address stated that the objective of the Workshop is to create awareness among National Stakeholders and provide necessary information on preparing for and conducting IPPAS Mission in Nigeria. He added that since NNRA is mandated to advise the Federal Government on Nuclear security, safety and radiation protection matters, the IPPAS Mission therefore, will provide guidance to the Federal Government and Licensed Operators on how to effectively implement requirements and recommendations from international instruments and IAEA nuclear security publications on the protection of nuclear and other radioactive material, associated facilities and activities.

He appreciated the efforts of the IAEA in its relentless effort to ensure global nuclear security and most especially for enhancing our national nuclear security regime. He indicated that NNRA is open to learning and improving on its mandate to meet the international accepted best practice. The Mission Experts were assured of the NNRA’s cooperation to ensure they record a successful outing at the end of the meeting.

In his remarks, the IAEA Experts team leader Mr. Nicolas Delaunay noted that to achieve a successful IPPAS mission in Nigeria, it is important to have a hosting organization. He therefore thanked the NNRA for its support in coordinating and hosting the IPPAS mission. He remarked that IAEA notes all the achievements and progress of NNRA towards promoting nuclear security culture and assured Nigeria of IAEA support to build confidence within the international community and the general public with regards to the effectiveness of its national nuclear security regime.

A preparatory meeting for the upcoming IPPAS Mission in July was held after a three day intensive lectures.

The Workshop was graced with the following Experts; Mr. Nicolas Delaunay (IAEA), Mr. Paci Rustem (Albania) and Mr. Khairul (Indonesia), and participants were drawn from Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) ABU Zaria, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigerian Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service Headquarters and the NNRA.