We Have Set Safety Standards With Operational Cadre, Says Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday said the state government has raised the bar in safety of lives and property by inaugurating the safety first campaign and occupational safety cadre, first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The governor who stated this in his keynote address at the third Lagos State occupational safety and health conference (LASOSH) held in Lagos also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Bank of Industry, BOI as part of ensuring safety across the state.
He said, ‘’This groundbreaking cadre is not just a bureaucratic innovation; it is a bold declaration that Lagos is setting new standards in public service professionalism. It means that, for the first time, safety will not be treated as an ad-hoc responsibility but as a recognized career path, complete with structure, expertise, and continuity. This step will ensure that generations of Lagosians benefit from a professional corps dedicated solely to occupational safety and health.
‘’As we celebrate past achievements, we must also look ahead. The future of safety lies in technology and data. Lagos has taken the lead with the deployment of a safety application that empowers citizens to report hazards in real time, drones for aerial surveillance of high-risk zones, and body cameras equipped with thermal functionalities to support compliance monitoring, enforcement, and emergency response.
‘’These tools are deliberate investments in predictive governance. They allow us to identify safety issues as they emerge, study trends and patterns, and act proactively rather than reactively. This is how Lagos is setting the pace, using innovation not only to secure today but also to anticipate tomorrow.
‘’However, let me stress that the government cannot do it alone. The safety of Lagos is the responsibility of every stakeholder, public institutions, private enterprises, civil society, academia, and the ordinary citizen. Together, we must nurture a culture where cutting corners is no longer tolerated; where safety is not seen as a cost, but as an investment in sustainability and human dignity.’’
He charged the safety officers to ensure that there’s fairness and justice at all times, saying, “If you don’t need to shut a place down, do not shut it down. If you think that what they did is just to encourage them, to speak to them, that’s all you need to do. It’s when you know that you want the full hand of the law on them, then you do not shy away from doing that. And so we need to do it responsibly, with a sense of accountability.
Director General, Lagos State Safety Commission, (LSSC), Lanre Mojola said, “We realize that enforcement action is reducing as compliance is increasing. As we continue to go to more places to inspect more places, largely our enforcement is returned. But we still ensure that Vertical Transportation Equipment are fully enforced to the letter as Lagos continues to move on.
Continuing, Mojola added, “We’re doing a lot of work in terms of regulations. Some of the regulations have been around swimming pool control, construction safety, dangerous goods, transportation. Lagos has the port. So we find out that a lot of people move things, dangerous goods, oil, gas, from Lagos to the hinterland.
“One of the things that we’ve also done is the establishment of the Occupational Safety Officers. It’s the first in Africa. Just like the E1 was first over the weekend.
“Today, we’re introducing 28 new Occupational Safety Officers for Lagos State Government. We intend to continue to employ more as time passes on.”
He reiterated that over 20,000 facilities already registered have GPIS with pictorial evidence.
Mojola, who stated that the commission is leveraging AI, added that, “How do we ensure that we can predict issues before they crystallize?”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Special Duties and intergovernmental Relations, Mr Olugbenga Oyerinde pointed out that occupational and general public safety remains a top priority to the state government, noting “Every Lagosian deserves to live, work, and move freely without any fear.
“This conference has become a platform to host leaders of thought, Safety practitioners, policy makers, and industry players who come together to exchange ideas, review progress, and to chart pathways for safer workplaces and safer communities” .
