By Precious Igbonwelundu
Two new mobile radiation detection equipment donated to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD) by the United State (US) may be deployed to the airport and seaport to check threats to nuclear security, the police said yesterday.
Police Commissioner in charge of EOD Maikudi Shehu disclosed this in Lagos while taking delivering of the equipment donated by the US Depatment of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration/ office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Detterence (USDOE/NNSA/NSDD).
Shehu who acknowledged the gadgets would fortify the nation’s entry/exit points against smuggling of radiation and explosive materials, said he would have to seek the input of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Adamu on the issue.
“You are all aware of the fact that we have a very large border landmass. We are starting with these two and we may deploy them to the airport or seaport. By the time I return to Abuja, I will discuss with my boss the Inspector General of Police (IG) to know the best place to deploy these machines.
“When we do that and see how effective they are, we will have to procure more to be able to cover other international entry and exit points. These two are free gift from the US,” he said during interview with reporters.
According to him, the donation was facilitated by the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Aside donating the mobile detectors, The Nation reports that a team of experts were brought in to train EOD operatives on the usage and maintenance of the equipment.
Thanking the donors for their kind gesture towards Nigeria, Shehu said the equipment came at the right time when the country was making efforts to contain menace of terrorism and other security threats that have bedeviled it.
“It is worrisome to note that Nigeria’s rank in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index of 2018, demands for more action by initiating a purposeful technology driven policing and workable security strategies in combating terrorism and other crimes.
“On behalf of the IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, I thank our partners, the US-DOE/NNSA/NSDD for the donation of two mobile detection systems with associated equipment, spare parts and maintenance kits to the Nigeria Police Force to enhance Nigeria nuclear security detection architecture.
“It is important to emphasize that the training is provided at no cost to the Nigeria Police Force and it will offer participants the ability to operate and maintain the mobile detection systems and associated handheld equipment with a view to strengthening our capability to deter, detect and investigate smuggling of nuclear and radioactive sources/materials thereby combating threats associated with nuclear and terrorism crime.
“Participants for the training were selected on merit from bases/units where the equipment will be deployed to maximise the benefits. It is my belief that the training will improve the capacity of the Nigeria Police, in conformity with her statutory responsibility of crime prevention and detection in the following ways:
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“Detect and identify illegally imported ot transported radioactive materials/sources at international entry/exit points of the country; mop up radioactive materials that are out not regulatory control; deter terrorists and other criminal elements from.accessimg radioactive materials that can be used to perpetrate heinous crimes; prevent exportation of radioactive materials as scrap metals and enhance security at major public events against Improvised Nuclear Device (IND), Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), Radiological Exposure Device (RED) and other nuclear security threats…”
In his remark Senior Advisor DOE/NNSA/NSOD Byrccon Shulman said they were committed to assisting partner agencies check illicit trafficking, adding that Nigeria was the first country in first West Africa and the second in the continent to receive such equipment.
“This week we are training them on usage of the devices but in the future, we will focus on maintenance training to allow them actually do the maintenance on the equipment themselves. We are not just providing equipment, we are providing the expertise to maintain the equipment and sustainability to make sure the vans continue to function.
“If there is additional training or maintenance need, we are going to be here to ensure that Nigeria Police EOD has everything needed to continue operating, whether it is their vans, the equipments inside them or additional experts equipments,” he said.
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