IAEA safeguards and state system of accounting for and control of nuclear materials

Abstract

IAEA Safeguards and State System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material The seminar was based on the premise of understanding the Nuclear Non-proliferation regime as it relates to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In addition, it sought to create a useful knowledge of the the role of IAEA Safeguards in the implementation of the NPT and generate awareness on the role of a state in the implementation of safeguards. Historically, the origin of nuclear technology can be traced to the discovery of nuclear fission and subsequent events which emanated from this development. The most important of these events which have come to shape nuclear regulation was U.S preseident Dwight Eisenhower’s speech “Atoms For Peace” at the UN general Assembly to curb the global nuclear arms race. The aforementioned speech birthed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations Organization on 29th July 1957 with a dual mission to promote and control atomic energy. The nuclear non-proliferation regime consists of a number of components namely; global, regional, bilateral agreements, export control regime, nuclear security, IAEA Safeguards, conditions for supply of nuclear related material, technology and equipment, and protection against theft, sabotage or other malicious acts involving radioactive materials and facilities. The treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT) was negotiated by Eighteen UN countries in Geneva 1965-1968 and entered into force in March 1970. It remains the binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear weapons states and as at March 2019, the treaty had 191 states as parties. The NPT stands on three pillars non-proliferation, peaceful use and disarmament. Under this treaty nuclear weapon states differ from non-nuclear weapon states and the former are bound under article 1 of the treaty not to supply the latter with nuclear weapons. The IAEA concludes three types of safeguards agreement, a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSA) with non-nuclear-weapon state parties to the NPT, a Voluntary Offer Safeguards Agreements with the nuclear-weapon state parties to the NPT, and an Item-Specific Safeguards Agreements with non-NPT States. The Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSA) was drafted by an IAEA Safeguards Committee and the IAEA BoG approved text in 1971 under it, States undertake to accept IAEA Safeguards on all nuclear material in all peaceful nuclear activities within its territory under its jurisdiction or carried out under its control anywhere. In the document are also stated the limitations of traditional safeguards, inspections CSA verification activities and other such practical processes and purposes of a CSA. The implementation of safeguards in Nigeria is enforced by the NNRA under Act 19 of 1995. The NNRA has developed the Nigeria Nuclear Safeguards Regulations and has tirelessly pursued its implementation. Okoye Valentine Ikemefuna