Nigeria has taken a significant stride in enhancing its nuclear and radiation safety framework following the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year cooperation project led by the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) with support from the European Union (EU).
At a dissemination workshop and closing ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday, government officials and international partners highlighted the project’s role in improving regulatory oversight, technical capacity, and institutional readiness for the safe use of nuclear technology across critical sectors.
Representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Permanent Secretary Patience Oyekunle said the initiative demonstrated the impact of partnerships built on shared responsibility.
She noted that the collaboration had strengthened Nigeria’s nuclear safety infrastructure in line with global standards.
“Nuclear and radiation technologies play a vital role in healthcare, agriculture, oil and gas, research, and industry.
”While the benefits are enormous, safety must always remain our top priority,” Oyekunle stated.
Key achievements of the project include the drafting of a National Nuclear and Radiation Safety Policy and Strategy, as well as new regulations on licensing nuclear facilities.
An Integrated Management System (IMS) was also developed to improve transparency, decision-making, and quality control within the NNRA.
Oyekunle praised the EU for its financial and technical support, describing the project as a milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to align its nuclear safety systems with international best practices.
Similarly, Dr. Yau Idris, NNRA Director-General, represented by Farouq Ingawa, said the initiative had strengthened the authority’s institutional capacity and regulatory effectiveness.
The project, implemented under the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC), covered five operational task groups aimed at aligning Nigeria’s regulatory frameworks with international standards.
Dr. Idris emphasized that the project’s conclusion does not mark an end but a continuation, with the regulations developed under the initiative now requiring formal approval and implementation.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Anthony Ekedegwa, stressed that a robust regulatory framework is essential to ensure safe applications of nuclear technology across healthcare, agriculture, research, and industry.
Echoing the importance of capacity building, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), represented by Felix Olu, said strengthening the NNRA ahead of Nigeria’s plan to establish a multipurpose nuclear research reactor is critical for safety and responsible programme implementation.
The Deputy Ambassador of the EU to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, lauded Nigeria’s steady progress in developing independent nuclear regulatory systems, noting that the collaboration, guided by European expertise and IAEA recommendations, could serve as a model for other countries in the region.
Participants, including Belgium’s Envoy to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, underscored that the project not only reinforced regulatory structures but also deepened international partnerships aimed at promoting nuclear safety and sustainable development in Nigeria.
