Professional Assessment of Radiation Safety Management Systems at Private Diagnostic Imaging Centres in Abuja, North Central Nigeria

The private diagnostic imaging sector in Abuja has expanded rapidly, yet regulatory oversight of radiation safety management systems in these facilities operates with variable enforcement capacity, creating patient and occupational safety risks. A professional assessment of radiation safety management system quality across private imaging centres in Abuja is needed to inform regulatory policy and improvement priorities. This study conducts a professional assessment of radiation safety management systems at private diagnostic imaging centres in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. A structured regulatory compliance audit is applied across fifteen private imaging centres selected through purposive sampling from NRBN registered facility lists. The audit instrument evaluates radiation safety programme documentation, designated radiation protection supervisor appointments, radiation monitoring equipment availability and calibration status, personal dosimeter provision and monitoring compliance, patient dosimetry records, and staff radiation safety training documentation. An overall Radiation Safety Management Score is computed for each facility. Descriptive statistics and ranking analysis are performed in SPSS. Available private sector radiation safety literature from North Central Nigeria identifies absence of appointed radiation protection supervisors and absence of personal dosimetry monitoring as the most prevalent safety management system deficiencies. The IAEA Safety Standards GSR Part 3 and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority licensing requirements provide the professional compliance framework. Findings are expected to reveal a bimodal distribution, with larger centres approaching compliance and smaller single-modality centres showing critical management system gaps. Recommendations address graduated enforcement protocols, mandatory radiation safety management training for facility managers, and NNRA compliance audit scheduling for Abuja private imaging centres. Keywords: radiation safety management, private imaging centres, Abuja, regulatory compliance, North Central Nigeria.