By Peter Dansu Lagos State has once again taken the lead in innovation and governance excellence as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurate...
By Peter Dansu
Lagos State has once again taken the lead in innovation and governance excellence as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated Africa’s first Occupational Safety Officers Cadre, describing it as a bold step toward institutionalizing safety and protecting lives across workplaces and public spaces.
Speaking at the 3rd Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH) held on Tuesday in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the establishment of the cadre marks a historic shift from treating safety as a secondary concern to recognizing it as a specialized and professional career path within the public service.
“This groundbreaking cadre is not just a bureaucratic innovation; it is a bold declaration that Lagos is setting new standards in public service professionalism,” the Governor said. “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.”
According to him, the creation of the Occupational Safety Officers Cadre will ensure that generations of Lagosians benefit from a professional corps dedicated solely to occupational safety and health. The Governor also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to further strengthen safety measures and foster sustainable development across the state.
Sanwo-Olu revealed that the state has begun deploying cutting-edge technology to improve safety monitoring and compliance. He highlighted innovations such as a safety mobile application that allows residents to report hazards in real-time, the use of drones for aerial surveillance of high-risk areas, and the introduction of body cameras with thermal imaging to enhance enforcement and emergency response.
“These tools are deliberate investments in predictive governance,” he said. “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.”
The Governor, however, emphasized that achieving a safe Lagos requires collective effort. “The government cannot do it alone,” he said. “The safety of Lagos is the responsibility of every stakeholder—public institutions, private enterprises, civil society, academia, and ordinary citizens. 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.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed that occupational and public safety remain top priorities for the Lagos State Government.
“Every Lagosian deserves to live, work, and move freely without fear,” Oyerinde said. “This conference provides a platform for safety practitioners, policymakers, and industry players to exchange ideas and develop strategies for safer workplaces and communities.”
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, also described the introduction of the Occupational Safety Officers Cadre as a major milestone, noting that it is the first of its kind in Africa.
“One of the things we’ve done is the establishment of the Occupational Safety Officers. It’s the first in Africa,” Mojola said. “Today, we’re introducing 28 new officers into the Lagos State Government system, and we intend to recruit more over time.”
He explained that compliance levels across industries have continued to rise due to intensified awareness and proactive enforcement. “We realize that enforcement actions are reducing as compliance increases,” he said. “However, we still ensure that regulations around construction safety, swimming pool control, dangerous goods, and vertical transportation are fully enforced.”
Mojola further disclosed that the Commission is leveraging Artificial Intelligence to predict potential safety issues before they occur, while over 20,000 facilities across Lagos have already registered on the General Public Inspection System (GPIS) with pictorial documentation.
With these bold initiatives, Lagos continues to set the pace for safety management, not just in Nigeria but across the continent—ushering in a future where occupational health and safety are embedded in everyday governance, innovation, and public consciousness.
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