NNRA PARLEYS WITH THE DSS ON HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

NNRA PARLEYS WITH THE DSS ON HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

The Management of Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) recently paid a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS).The visit which was focused on Human Capacity Development in Nuclear Security for Security and Intelligence Agencies at National Points of Entry/Exit (POE/E), was held at the DSS Headquarters in Abuja.

The Courtesy visit led by Dr. Yau Idris, Acting DG/CEO of the NNRA was necessitated by the directives from the Federal Government requesting NNRA to collaborate with relevant security and intelligence agencies in Nigeria for the purpose of conducting specialized trainings for their personnel on identification, recognition and handling of nuclear and other ionizing radiation sources while in the discharge of their respective duties.

Dr. Yau during the visit, elucidated NNRA’s collaborative programs with the DSS in the past like during the search for missing radioactive sources, providing security, enabling enforcements and provision of cover for participants especially at IAEA events and in the establishment of the Nuclear Security Centre (NSC).

He stated that the aim of the visit is to seek for collaboration through the Nuclear Security Centre to;

        i.            Enable the DSS to participate in the NNRA training in the detection of nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control at Nigeria’s Points of Entry and Exit (POE/E)

      ii.            Conduct specialized training on types/specification of equipment required for detection of ionizing radiation

        iii.            Put mechanisms in place for the protection of  DSS personnel, their co-workers and the general public against the harmful effects of nuclear and radiological materials

In his response, the Director General of Department of State Services, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi thanked the NNRA for their visit and applauded the initiative to introduce Nuclear Security trainings to their Agency. He urged the NNRA to liaise further with the relevant directors to develop mechanism;

        i.            for training of frontline officers of the DSS

        ii.            to include nuclear security modules for incoming cadets of the DSS

        iii.            to continue the deployment of nuclear security in the Executive Intelligence           Management Course (EIMC) at the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS)

       iv.            to monitor all nuclear related activities and draw the NNRA’s attention to any suspicious incidents