USDOE PARTNERS NNRA ON CYBERSECURITY OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN NIGERIA

USDOE PARTNERS NNRA ON CYBERSECURITY OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN NIGERIA

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy (USDOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of International Nuclear Security (OINS) organized a three (3) day National Workshop on “Cybersecurity and Physical Protection Systems” in Abuja, Nigeria from 22nd - 24th, April, 2024.

The workshop was aimed to provide an interactive technical exchange, focusing on the critical intersection of cybersecurity and physical protection systems, essential for ensuring the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Nigeria.

The DG/CEO, Dr. Yau Usman Idris in his remarks at the opening ceremony stated that the collaboration with the USDOE, was very important to NNRA as they continue to provide assistance in the area of human capacity development, different aspects of nuclear security including implementing physical security upgrade at the Nigeria Research Reactor (NIRR-1). He appreciated the USDOE for its continuous support to Nigeria and to the visiting experts for sharing their knowledge and experiences with the NNRA.

The lead of the US team, Mr. Alexander Reed Moe acknowledged the historic cooperation and partnership between International Nuclear Security (INS) of the US and Nigeria through the NNRA, which has focused on Cybersecurity, Insider Threat Mitigation, Regulation Development and Physical Security. He stated that the purpose of the workshop was to share ideas, experiences and knowledge on cybersecurity and physical protection systems.

The Workshop comprised of presentations on Cybersecurity, hands on exercises using the Cyber-in-a-Case kit to simulate cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Participants engaged in exercises to detect and identify potential threats.

The Resource persons for the workshop were drawn from USDOE/OINS which included Mr. Patrick Daniel Lynch, Mr. Alexander Reed Moe, Mr. Jeffrey Maxwell Knight and Mr. Ethan Samuel Bauer. The National Stakeholders included the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, (NAEC), National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) and Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).