The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed its strategic initiative to implement a Radiological and Nuclear Detection Program, to enhance national security against the smuggling of nuclear materials.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, unveiled this plan during the inauguration of a 4-Day Capacity Building Workshop organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada.
Representing the CGC at the workshop, Assistant Comptroller General Malanta Yusuf emphasized the significance of the initiative, anticipating that it would equip participants with the necessary technical expertise to identify and counteract the illegal trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials.
The implementation of this program is expected to fortify cross-border security by familiarizing participants with operational challenges and cultivating a deeper understanding of the multifaceted responsibilities associated with this innovative strategy.
ACG Malanta Yusuf commended the Customs leadership for their collaborative efforts, highlighting the role of innovation in elevating the Service’s overall performance. He stressed the critical function of training sessions in ensuring that officers acquire state-of-the-art information and skills.
Nigeria Customs Service Radiation Safety Officer, CSC Nafi’u Abubakar, emphasized the uniqueness of the program on a global scale, positioning Nigeria as one of the pioneering nations to implement this groundbreaking initiative.
As the Customs Service prepares to combat nuclear smuggling with innovative methods, the endorsement from experienced specialist Dr. Isa Sambo FSI, the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority’s Director of Radiological Safety, underscores the potentially transformative impact of this strategic move.
Dr. Sambo commended the CGC for promptly approving the training, foreseeing a reduction in border crimes, and an enhancement in the country’s ability to effectively address new risks. He affirmed, “The action is set to place Nigeria at the forefront of international efforts to secure borders against the illicit trafficking of radiological and nuclear materials.”
