The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) has strengthened its collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure strict enforcement of nuclear safety and radiation protection regulations across the country.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr. Yau Idris, disclosed this in Abuja while addressing reporters on the sidelines of a workshop organised for workers of the authority by Halimasalam Nigeria Limited.
The workshop, titled “Strengthening Regulatory Competence, Inspector Effectiveness and Service Delivery Reforms,” was organised to enhance staff capacity and improve operational efficiency within the authority.
Idris explained that the NNRA’s regulatory mandate spans several sectors of the economy, including oil and gas, health, education, excavation and construction, where radioactive materials are either utilised or researched.
According to him, non-compliance with regulatory standards, especially by government-owned institutions, has remained a major challenge for the authority, necessitating deeper collaboration with security agencies and other critical stakeholders.
He said the DSS and the Nigeria Police Force had pledged their support to ensure the NNRA effectively discharges its statutory responsibilities across the country.
The NNRA helmsman noted that regulating public health institutions has been more difficult than overseeing private facilities, which he said were generally more inclined to comply with regulatory requirements.
“Our major challenge is regulating government facilities, particularly hospitals. We find it very difficult to regulate the health sector.
“For the private sector, it is much easier because they are commercial entities and are more willing to comply with our regulations,” he said.
Idris further revealed that the NNRA recently held a meeting with the DSS and was also working closely with the police bomb squad and the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure strict enforcement of its regulations nationwide.
“In fact, the Minister of Health has given us a mandate that any hospital that is not complying with our regulations should be shut down,” he said.
According to him, both the DSS and the police are fully prepared to assist the authority in the discharge of its duties, adding that the NNRA has commenced intensive capacity-building programmes for its staff, including the engagement of external experts to strengthen regulatory competence.
“This time around, we are not going to take it lightly with anybody,” the NNRA boss warned.
Idris urged workers of the authority to uphold transparency and fairness in their engagements with licensees, stressing the need for prompt and professional conduct to safeguard public safety in the use of nuclear and radiological facilities across the country.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Halimasalam Nigeria Limited, Mr. Shakir Akorede, said the training was designed to improve the productivity and effectiveness of the NNRA.
He emphasised the importance of continuous scrutiny of modern technologies and their potential impact on the environment and public health.
“It is very critical to have regulatory agencies that protect the health of Nigerians. For instance, when exploration or other industrial activities are carried out, it is important to understand how they affect humans and the environment.
“In most cases, these issues are not given sufficient attention in this part of the world, but in Nigeria, we have an agency that focuses on the human and environmental impact,” he said.
Akorede stressed that strict compliance with established rules and procedures was essential to preventing environmental hazards that could negatively affect human lives.
“Our interest is to ensure the best performance on the part of the regulator and, ultimately, the safety of Nigerians,” he added.
The Chairman of the NNRA branch of the Petroleum Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tosin Abegunde, also commended the authority for organising the workshop for its staff.
He said continuous learning was necessary for workers to keep pace with new technologies and rapid developments in the nuclear industry, while calling for improved funding for the agency to enable it effectively carry out its mandate.
Similarly, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr. Mukhtar Akoshile, praised the NNRA for its commitment to staff capacity building.
He said such initiatives promote self-sufficiency and enhance the value of young professionals to themselves, the nation and the global community.
“As a young person working in an organisation, you can distinguish yourself through dedication and patriotism.
Opportunities such as scholarships, overseas training and career advancement can come with focus and discipline,” he said, urging young people to remain committed and avoid distractions.
