The Lagos State Government, through the Safety Commission, has reiterated its commitment to ensuring comprehensive safety standards in all workplaces across the State.
The Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola disclosed this at an Environmental and Safety Seminar organised in collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa Branch, Lagos, with the theme: “Seamless Environmental Regulations in Lagos State”.
Mojola explained that the forum is an interesting engagement where the Manufacturers and Government regulatory agencies are deliberating a course of action toward ensuring the reduction of accidents at workplaces.
He maintained that safety is a concerted effort and everyone must imbibe the spirit of safety and take responsibility for ensuring that the environment is well protected from any form of hazards.
In his words: “Manufacturers Association of Nigeria should do things better in the coming year, let us take safety as a collective responsibility and do away with complacency at workplaces, learn new ways and engage in a consistent training workshop that would assist to make our personnel better equipped. We need to make safety issues very important because the statistics are glaring; 2.3 million accidents in a year, 6,300 a day and 260 in one hour”.
“The whole point of this engagement session is to speak to ourselves and identify that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Don’t turn a blind eye, and avoid sharp practices that could cause accidents or lead to fatality. For 2023, we would like everyone to ensure that they follow all regulatory processes and obtain their safety clearance certificate while also ensuring that their safety officers are registered appropriately”, he noted.
Enjoining the association to continue to do things better, Mojola harped on the need to train and retrain their staff on safety rules and ensure the right people are employed to take up the challenges of disaster management.
The Apapa Branch Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Frank Onyegbu challenged the regulatory agencies to ensure that an enabling environment is created to allow businesses to thrive.
Onyegbu explained that the whole essence of the event is to create a path towards a business-friendly environment, by analysing the expectations and ease of compliance for the 2023 business year.
He expressed confidence that the seminar would go a long way to forge a cordial relationship between government bodies and the association to ensure a seamless working ambiance that will reduce the cost of doing business.
The Chairman also raised concern about the rising cost of doing business which is having a negative impact on their operations, urging the regulatory agencies to bear with them in the area of financial services.
“Our margins are going down and the diesel cost is rising and bad roads across the country are another concern to grapple with. In the coming year, we seek more collaboration and hope that multiple inspections are reduced, while harmonised inspections should be encouraged”, he pleaded.
Also speaking on the activities of the Government, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) General Manager, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni enlightened participants on how to dispose of their waste and measures put in place by LAWMA to regulate waste disposal in the State.
Odumboni, who was represented by Mr. Olumide Mumuni, said the agency has been going around the State to sensitise members of the public to imbibe the culture of proper solid waste management.
He enjoined the members of MAN to comply with the environmental law and assured them of adequate support in the areas of advocacy and proper waste management.
Also present at the event were representatives of LASPPPA, LASEPA, Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, LASAA, and Lagos Water Regulatory among others.