REGULATORY COOPERATION FORUM MEETING WITH THE NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY 29TH OCTOBER 2019 AT THE NNRA HEADQUARTERS ABUJA NIGERIA, October 2019.

REGULATORY COOPERATION FORUM MEETING WITH THE NIGERIAN NUCLEAR REGULATORY AUTHORITY 29TH OCTOBER 2019 AT THE NNRA HEADQUARTERS ABUJA NIGERIA, October 2019.

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) organised a One day Meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Regulatory Cooperation Forum (RCF) at the NNRA Headquarters in Abuja on 29^th October, 2019. The RCF is a member-driven forum of Nuclear Safety Regulators which Nigeria is a member since 2012. The forum promotes the sharing of regulatory knowledge and experience through international cooperation with the goal of achieving a high level nuclear safety that is consistent with the IAEA safety standards.

The objective of the meeting was to identify and coordinate RCF support activity plan for Nigeria from 2020 and beyond. It was also aimed at providing Senior Government officials with guidance on how to manage challenges in the field of regulatory infrastructure development for Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Nigeria. The team was led by Dr. Bismark Tyobeka, the RCF Chairman and Head of the South African Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and RCF Secretary, Mr. Masa Aoki from IAEA.  

The Acting Director General/CEO, Dr. Yau Usman Idris in his opening speech welcomed the IAEA Mission and other participants to the meeting. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the RCF’s Mission in the Country.

The head of Mission Mr. Bismark Tyobeka in his remark stated that the meeting was aimed at reviewing Nigeria’s current status and progress made in respect to Nuclear Power Plant regulations in the country and to also identify areas that the RCF and its other international partners can render their support to help Nigeria make progress.    

During the meeting, two paper presentations were made by both NNRA and Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC). Dr. Nasiru Bello, General Manager Nuclear Safety, Physical Protection and Safeguards Department of the NNRA in his presentation, he highlighted and explained the current status of the regulatory Infrastructure development and support activities of the NNRA and the extent to which various regulations have been developed and implemented by the Authority. He also stated that the Authority has made considerable progress in implementing the recommendations of the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) Mission conducted in 2017 in Nigeria.

 Mr. Nasir Badamasi of  (NAEC) also made a presentation on “Implementation of the Nuclear Power Programme in Nigeria-Government/NEPIO.” The paper dwelled on the milestone and efforts put towards preparing for the take-off of NPP in Nigeria.

In closing, the IAEA Experts identified four (4) priority areas amongst others that the RCF will be assisting Nigeria which include:

• Training on review and assessment
• Review of draft Regulations and Guides
• Fellowships for education in China and Republic of Korea
• Scientific visit for the development of Technical Support Organization (TSO) capacity for nuclear power.

The Mission further said that an evaluation of the level of implementation of highlighted areas will be carried out after a year to check the progress made by the Authority.

The meeting was attended by Management and Staff  of the NNRA.

Click here for pictures.