Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Remarkable Safety Cadre, first in Sub-Saharan Africa
L-R: Commissioner for Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde; Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Hon. Rauf Age-Sulaiman; Director –General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola and Company Secretary, Bank of Industry, Olufunlola Salami, during the 3rd Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH) 2025 organized by the Lagos State Safety Commission themed: “Occupational Safety and Health as a Catalyst for Nation Building” at Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island on Tuesday, October 7, 2025
• 28 new Occupational Safety Officers inducted.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday declared that the state has set a new benchmark in workplace safety and public protection with the inauguration of the Safety First Campaign and the Occupational Safety Cadre, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH), the governor described the initiative as a “bold declaration” that safety in Lagos will no longer be treated as an afterthought but as a structured and professional discipline within the public service.
“This groundbreaking cadre is not just a bureaucratic innovation; it means safety will now be a recognised career path with structure, expertise, and continuity,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“Generations of Lagosians will benefit from a professional corps dedicated solely to occupational safety and health,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to strengthen safety initiatives across the state.
Highlighting Lagos’ technological advances in safety management, the governor disclosed that the state has deployed a safety application that allows citizens to report hazards in real time, drones for aerial surveillance of high-risk zones, and body cameras with thermal sensors for monitoring compliance and emergency response.
“These tools are deliberate investments in predictive governance,” he said, adding that “They help us identify safety issues as they emerge and act proactively rather than reactively.”
While stressing that safety remains a collective responsibility, Sanwo-Olu called on all stakeholders, from private businesses to civil society, to embrace a culture of compliance.
“Safety should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment in sustainability and human dignity,” he said.
He also urged safety officers to balance enforcement with fairness, saying, “If a facility doesn’t deserve to be shut down, don’t shut it down. But when the law must take its course, don’t hesitate to act.”
Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Lanre Mojola, revealed that compliance levels have significantly improved, leading to fewer enforcement actions.
He added that the commission continues to strengthen regulations in areas such as swimming pool control, construction safety, and the handling of dangerous goods transported through Lagos ports.
Mojola announced the induction of 28 new Occupational Safety Officers, noting that over 20,000 facilities in the state are now registered on the Government Safety Information System (GPIS) with verified pictorial evidence.
He also disclosed that the commission is leveraging Artificial Intelligence to predict and prevent safety risks before they escalate.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting every resident, saying: “Every Lagosian deserves to live, work, and move freely without fear.”
He added that the annual LASOSH conference remains a vital platform for thought leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas and chart pathways for safer workplaces and communities in Lagos.
