SUMMARY ON THE SEARCH AND SECURE OF ORPHAN AND LEGACY RADIOACTIVE SOURCES IN THE NINETEEN (19) NORTHERN STATES AND THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

SUMMARY ON THE SEARCH AND SECURE OF ORPHAN AND LEGACY RADIOACTIVE SOURCES IN THE NINETEEN (19) NORTHERN STATES AND THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

As part of its responsibility to ensure the protection of life, health and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) coordinated a project on Search and Secure of Orphan and Legacy Radioactive Sources in the North-East, North-West and North-Central Geo-political Zones from 30^th November to 4^th December 2020.

The objective of the project was to ensure that all radioactive sources were searched, recovered, and secured from malicious use across the geopolitical zone. It also aimed at enhancing security of radioactive sources and bringing them under regulatory control.

The project covered nineteen (19) states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory. The well activated exercise had a total of twenty six (26) teams comprising of three (3) personnel in each team. The Nigeria Police Force – Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel were on hand to provide security to the teams throughout the exercise.      

The regulatory exercise involved unlicensed facilities both existing and defunct, such as Steel Rolling/Recycling Companies, Textile Industries, Scrap Metal Dealers, Tobacco Factories Bottling Companies, Sugar Processing Companies and the Road Construction Companies.