Chinwe Ochu
19 November 2008
Abuja — Nigeria has joined the league of 23 countries benefiting from the Global Threat Reduction Search Project developed by the United States Government to train nuclear regulatory agencies in the world to locate, identify and protect abandoned radioactive sources.
United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders, stated this at the handover ceremony of Nuclear Radiation Detection Equipment in Abuja yesterday.
She said that the project, which has benefited 23 nations, has been introduced to Nigeria through the US Mission as part of her country's partnership with the Federal Government.
"In this regard, the people and government of the United States, through the US Mission in Nigeria are pleased to partner with Nigeria to assist the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority(NNRA) and other concerned agencies in building the necessary professional and institutional capacity to ensure that radioactive nuclear materials are used safely.
"On behalf of the people and Government of the USA, it gives me great pleasure to handover to the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority this nuclear radiation detection equipment," she said.
I look forward to continued partnership and I encourage you to take full advantage of the expertise available to you as evidenced by the skills, knowledge and experience given to you," she said.
Responding, NNRA Director General , Professor Elegba stated that so far, due to the assistance by the United States government , major strides have been achieved by the agency. For what Nigerians will expect in the future, he said: "In 2009, the NNRA will require all the existing importers of radioactive sources especially in the petroleum industry to declare names and addresses of their previous warehouse and storage facilities so that verified inventory execution could be carried out at such locations."
According to him, "The NNRA will continue to vigorously pursue its strategic partnership with the various security organizations in the areas of training and sharing information."
Elegba requested for greater partnership with the United States government in Nigeria's efforts in ridding the country of "orphan radioactive sources and by so doing upgrading the competence of our front line officers and security organisations in the area of nuclear security."
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