Youth Stakeholders Back NNRA DG, Seek Increased Funding for Nuclear Safety

Youth leaders and civil society stakeholders have declared support for the Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to provide increased funding for the agency. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, National Vice President (North Central) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria […]

Youth leaders and civil society stakeholders have declared support for the Director General of the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) and called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to provide increased funding for the agency.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, National Vice President (North Central) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ambassador Akoshile Mukhtar, said enhanced budgetary allocation would strengthen nuclear safety, protect public health, and secure the nation’s energy future.

Mukhtar commended the NNRA leadership for upholding international best practices in nuclear regulation, radiation protection, and energy oversight, noting that the agency plays a critical role in shielding Nigerians from harmful radiation and building investor confidence in the energy and industrial sectors.

He, however, warned that chronic underfunding of the NNRA poses a challenge to its oversight functions in healthcare, oil and gas, agriculture, industrial applications, defense operations, and the emerging nuclear energy sector.

“We are mobilizing Nigerian youths and civil society to advocate for stronger support to the NNRA. Funding nuclear safety is not optional; it is essential. A well-resourced NNRA translates to a safer Nigeria, improved compliance with global standards, and greater investor trust,” he said.

At the end of their deliberations, the coalition resolved to engage the National Assembly for increased budgetary appropriations to the NNRA, mobilize nationwide awareness campaigns on radiation safety, and support modernization of the agency’s regulatory frameworks.

They also pledged to promote youth inclusion in nuclear safety initiatives, encourage international cooperation with bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and highlight nuclear safety as a national security and climate change priority.

The group urged the Federal Government to match its commitment with adequate resources, stressing that a strong NNRA is vital to safeguarding lives, protecting the environment, and sustaining Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.