Enugu, Nuclear Regulatory Agency Collaborate to Ensure Radiative Safety in Hospitals

Our Reporter 

The Enugu State Ministry of Health and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) have partnered to establish minimum benchmarks for radiative equipment safety in health facilities across the state.

The state government and NNRA expressed commitment to prioritising safety and protection in healthcare delivery.

The partnership commitment was made known during the 2026 Stakeholders’ Meeting on Radiative Safety, in Enugu, Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the Enugu state Commissioner for Health, George Ugwu explained that the government was intensifying efforts to ensure that radiative equipment used in hospitals and diagnostic centres complied with the safety procedures, regulatory framework and periodic inspection requirements of the NNRA.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the healthcare investment drive of Governor Peter Mbah.

“For Enugu State Government, we strive to get the best for our people and today’s stakeholders’ meeting is to support the huge investment in healthcare delivery of our health-loving Governor, His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah,” he said.

The commissioner urged all health facilities and radiographers operating in the state to strictly adhere to NNRA guidelines and standards on radiative safety.

“In Enugu State, protection and safety of lives in all its ramifications, including radiative safety, remain paramount,” he added.

Ugwu further disclosed that the state’s 300-bed international hospital, expected to commence operations soon, had already received seven state-of-the-art medical equipment which successfully passed NNRA inspection and certification processes.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Yau Idris, commended the Enugu State Government for its strong intervention in the health sector and its insistence on maintaining quality and safety standards.

Represented by the acting South-East Zonal Coordinator of NNRA, Chioma Nwankwo, Idris noted that the agency remained committed to protecting Nigerians from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.

He observed that radiation technology had become an integral part of modern medicine, especially in cancer radiotherapy and other specialised treatments.

The NNRA boss called for stronger regulatory compliance, improved partnerships, proactive safety culture, collaborative training, workforce empowerment and the integration of radiation protection into quality healthcare delivery.

According to him, ensuring the safe and justified use of radiative equipment is a collective responsibility.

“Let us commit today to a culture of compliance — not because we fear the regulatory authority, but because we value the patients, workers, public, environment and our future,” he said.

The meeting featured presentations including “The NNRA – What it Represents: Its Charters” by NNRA Chief Technical Officer, Simon Idakeoji; “Radiation Protection in Medicine” by Nwankwo; and “NNRA Authorization Procedure” by NNRA Technical Officer, Kingsley Agomuo.

Stakeholders at the meeting, comprising radiographers from private, mission, federal and state-owned health facilities, pledged to uphold NNRA safety standards in their daily operations.

The stakeholders’ meeting was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority.