The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) has strengthened collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure stricter enforcement of nuclear safety and radiation protection regulations across the country.
The Director-General of the NNRA, Yau Idris, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists on the sidelines of a workshop held in Abuja.
The workshop, titled “Strengthening Regulatory Competence, Inspector Effectiveness, and Service Delivery Reforms,” was organised by Halimasalam Nigeria Ltd for NNRA staff.
Dr. Idris explained that the NNRA’s regulatory mandate cuts across key sectors including oil and gas, health, education, construction and mining, where radioactive materials are either used or researched.
According to him, while private sector operators generally comply with safety regulations, enforcement remains challenging within public institutions, particularly government-owned hospitals.
“Our major challenge is regulating government facilities, especially hospitals,” Idris said. “Compliance in the public health sector has been difficult, unlike the private sector, which is more commercially driven and responsive to regulation.”
He revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health has empowered the NNRA to shut down any hospital found to be in violation of nuclear and radiation safety standards.
To address persistent non-compliance, Idris said the Authority has adopted a joint enforcement approach involving the DSS, the police bomb disposal units and the Ministry of Health.
“We have already engaged the DSS and are working closely with the police to ensure effective enforcement,” he said. “They are fully committed to supporting us, and we have also commenced intensive training of our personnel to enhance regulatory competence.”
The NNRA, he added, has launched a robust capacity-building programme involving external experts, stressing that the agency will no longer tolerate violations of safety regulations.
“We operate a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone found flouting nuclear safety rules will face decisive action,” Idris warned.
He also urged NNRA staff to uphold professionalism, transparency and fairness in their dealings with licence holders, noting that the overarching goal is the protection of public health and safety.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Halimasalam Nigeria Ltd., Shakir Akorede, underscored the critical role of regulatory agencies in safeguarding lives and the environment.
“Effective regulation is essential, especially in sensitive sectors like nuclear technology, where lapses can have severe consequences for public health and the environment,” Akorede said.
By Linus Aleke, Abuja
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