The Ogun State Government says it is transforming the existing safety office into a fully empowered Ogun State Safety Commission as part of the institutional reforms towards creating a modern, responsive, and professional safety regulatory system.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, represented by the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Environment, disclosed this in Abeokuta, the state capital, during the maiden edition of the one-day training workshop for safety workers, saying the move is targeted at meeting the demand of the current increasingly sophisticated industrial economy in the state.
Oresanya said that this is part of the strategic vision that represents a defining moment in the state’s journey towards building an industrial environment where safety is not regarded as an obligation imposed by law.
“Today’s workshop is far more than another government programme. It represents a defining moment in our journey towards building an industrial environment where safety is not regarded as an obligation imposed by law but as a fundamental organizational value embedded in every process, every decision, and every workplace culture,” he said.
“As one of Nigeria’s foremost industrial destinations, Ogun State continues to attract significant local and foreign investments. This remarkable industrial growth brings enormous opportunities for employment, wealth creation and technological advancement.
“However, it also places upon us a greater responsibility to ensure that industrial expansion is matched by equally robust systems for safety, environmental protection, emergency preparedness and risk management. Economic growth without safety is unsustainable,” he added.
“Our administration remains committed to ensuring that industrial progress and public safety advance together.”
New Direction For Industrial Safety
The commissioner said that over the past several months, officials of the ministry had undertaken extensive inspections, facility assessments and preliminary safety audits across numerous industries operating within Ogun State.
The engagements, he said, have yielded invaluable insights.
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Oresanya noted that while many organisations had developed commendable safety policies and documented management systems, findings consistently revealed a significant gap between written procedures and actual operational practices, as too often, safety exists in manuals rather than in behaviour.
“Too often, compliance is driven by inspections instead of conviction. Too often, risks are managed after incidents instead of before they occur. This reality demands a new approach.
“The future of industrial safety cannot depend solely upon periodic government inspections. Rather, it must be built upon continuous risk assessment, proactive leadership, competent personnel, measurable performance indicators and a deeply rooted culture of prevention,” he added.
