Best Practices for Addressing Risk from employees at Low Power Research Reactor Facility in Nigeria

Best Practices for Addressing Risk from employees at Low Power Research Reactor Facility in NigeriaSince the declaration of atoms for peace at the United Nations General Assembly in New York city on 8 December, 1953 by US President Eisenhower, peaceful applications of nuclear technology and research programs offered many benefits including the formation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1957 that will promote such applications. upon realizing the benefits could be derived from atoms, Nigeria joined the IAEA in 1964. Currently, Nigeria operates a low power research reactor which is used mainly for Research, Neutron Activation analysis and Education and Training in addition to Category 1, 2 and 3 used in food irradiation, radiotherapy and industrial applications in Oil and Gas sector. these benefits are not without associated risks such as natural disasters, accident and deliberate acts. of particular concern is the risk from use of material in a radiological dispersal device or improvised nuclear device, Sabotage of facilities, Theft or diversion of materials, technology, or information. Nigeria is seriously concerned about rising national and global terrorism, domestic issues that could lead to nuclear terrorist, Economic motives to steal and sell nuclear material, Criminal activities such as kidnapping and unforeseen economic downturns or socio-political changes that nuclear facilities needs to be protected against. The biggest threat facing the nuclear industry today in the insider who can steal nuclear materials or radioactive sources, introduce malicious code, leak information to outside group with malicious intent, sabotage a facility, collude with outsiders and accident (s). Nearly all known nuclear thefts or sabotage incidents appear to have been perpetrated by or with help from insiders. In order to continue to benefit from peaceful nuclear programs and research, we discuss Nigeria’s risk-based, multi-layered security to address the insider threat at its low power research reactor.