14th - 18th MAY 2007 | HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH, PROFESSOR EYITAYO LAMBO AT THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, SECOND REGIONAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING MEETING ON STRENGTHENING RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION OF PATIENT AND MEDICAL EXPOSURE CONTROL, ROCKVIEW HOTEL, ABUJA,

The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and the Nigeria Customs service have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to consolidate the existing cordial relationship and cooperation between the two institutions. It culminates six (6) yea s of beneficial cooperation in ensuring safety and security of all radioactive sources imported and exported into and out of Nigeria. This was necessitated by the fact that all radioactive sources used in the country are imported and, spent or disused radioactive sources must also be exported to the original manufacturers, suppliers or accredited radioactive waste management facility for reconditioning or permanent disposal. The MoU is also coming on the heels of the NNRA ban of the importation of obsolete, second hand and unserviceable x-ray machines and other radiation - emitting equipment and machines. The MoU was signed by the Director-General of NNRA, Professor Shamsideen B. EIegba and the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Jacob Buba Gyang during the Closing Ceremony of the week-long Africa Regional Cooperation Agreement (AFRA) Training Course on the Physical Protection of Radioactive Sources, held in Abuja from 16 to 20 July 2007. The Training Course was sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.
At the Ceremony, the CG pledged the continued support and cooperation of the Nigeria Customs in the collaborative effort to ensure that the NNRA effectively accomplish sits mandate in ensuring the physical protection of radioactive sources in the count. In particular, the CG noted the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IA ) in manpower development in Nigeria and in enhancing detection and physical protecti n of radioactive sources. In this regard, he urged the IAEA to speed up the installatio of a Radiation Portal Monitor at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) an the provision of additional handheld radiation monitoring devices for frontline officer and men of the Nigeria Customs. He further urged participants to make the best use f the immense benefits gained from the training course and also to establish a goo and lasting network for future cooperation between them.

Some of the areas covered by the MOU included the following:

• The NCS shall not lose or sell seized radioactive sources or destroy packages/labels together with seized radioactive sources or prosecute nuclear matters without the collaboration of the Authority in cases that contravene either or both of theNuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act (Act) and Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA)
• i The NNRA shall organize Seminars, Workshop and Training programmes in a wide range of subjects including management, intelligence and refresher courses to keep the men of NCS abreast of advances in matters of safety and security of nuclear material and radioactive sources
• The NCS shall not release radioactive sources in which the NCS is not fully satisfied with the licence or authorization status until it verifies from this from the NNRA
• The NCS shall cooperate with the Authority in enforcing compliance with the Act and penalties prescribed by the Act on any erring importer or exporter of ionizing radiation sources and in the prevention of unauthorized transportation/shipment of radioactive materials

Also speaking at the Ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Engineer Sadiq Mahmood commended the efforts of the NNRA in strictly enforcing the law on the importation, use and storage of radioactive sources in the country. He noted that although nuclear technology has many beneficial uses especially in medicine, the manufacturing industry and the oil and gas sectors of the economy, nuclear material and radioactive sources must be safeguarded and appropriately regulated to forestall their mishandling and misuse, given the potential adverse consequences if they are so mishandled or misused. He enjoined the participants to spread the knowledge gained and utilize it for the development of their respective countries to further the course of African cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. He further reiterated his support for the NNRA, pledging that his Ministry would do all that was necessary to help the NNRA achieve the fulfilment of its statutory mandates. The Permanent Secretary also launched the maiden edition of the NNRA Quarterly Journal - The Nuclear Regulator - and expressed the hope that it would flourish and serve as an authoritative voice on nuclear safety and radiological protection.

Speaking on behalf of the 27 participants, drawn from fifteen (15) African States and Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Adekaiyaoja thanked the IAEA and NNRA for organising the training programme which had broadened their knowledge and technical know-how. She further assured that participants would continue to network and share information in the area of physical protection of radioactive sources.