Nigeria is first African country to apply, granted hosting right for IPPAS,says NNRA Boss

Director General, of NNRA, Dr Usman Idris PHOTO: Facebook

The Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), has revealed that Nigeria was the first African county to apply and be granted the opportunity by International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) to conduct International Physical Protection And Advisory Service (IPPAS).

The Director General, of NNRA, Dr Usman Idris, made this known Friday while receiving the findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Abuja, at the occasion of the IPPAS mission to Nigeria.

In his welcome address, Dr Idris reiterated that the IAEA visit was not an inspection but an advisory mission, a visit to enable them to look into what was happening in Nigeria, what NNRA put in place and to advise them on how to improve.

According to him, the occasion which was first discussed during the 2016 Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP) renewed mission in Nigeria and the IPPAS preparatory meeting in May 2023, will help Nigeria’s research centre in Zaria and other places to improve.

Concluding, he thanked the office of the National Security Advisor, the Ministry of Defense, the DSS, the Nigerian Custom, the Nigeria Fire Service, The Nigeria Civil Defense and other relevant agencies for their collaboration to make the journey a success.

Also speaking at the event, the unit head of IAEA, Mr Arvydey Stadalinkas, said that nuclear security has continued to be recognized as an important issue worldwide and the core responsibility of IAEA is strengthening the global nuclear security in support of achieving its objectives.

Furthermore, he said that the responsibility of the nuclear security within the states rests on the states while IAEA provides a public vest, steadfast assistance to states in supporting their national effort.

Mr Stadainkas informed that IPPAS which was founded in 1995 to assist states strengthen their nuclear security regime, has been conveyed in 59 countries across the whole world.

In his closing remark, he thanks the Nigerian government for its contributions towards the success of the mission.

The workshop which lasted for two weeks, had in attendance, eight members of the IAEA selected from eight different countries in Africa.