Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday announced a new milestone in public safety management, unveiling the continent’s first Occupational Safety Cadre and launching the Safety First Campaign to strengthen protection of lives and property across the state.
Speaking at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH) held in Lagos, the governor described the initiative as a bold step towards institutionalising professionalism, innovation, and sustainability in safety administration.
Sanwo-Olu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to further promote safety initiatives and enhance the operational capacity of safety agencies in Lagos.
“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 recognised career path with structure, expertise, and continuity.”
According to him, the establishment of the new cadre ensures that “generations of Lagosians will benefit from a professional corps dedicated solely to occupational safety and health.”
Sanwo-Olu explained that the future of safety management lies in technology and data, adding that Lagos has already deployed a safety application that enables citizens to report hazards in real time. He also revealed that the government is now using drones for aerial surveillance of high-risk zones and body cameras with thermal capabilities to support compliance monitoring and emergency response.
“These tools are deliberate investments in predictive governance. They allow us to identify safety issues as they emerge, study trends, and act proactively rather than reactively,” he said.
“This is how Lagos is setting the pace, using innovation not only to secure today but to anticipate tomorrow.”
While calling for collaboration, the governor stressed that the safety of Lagos requires the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, public institutions, private enterprises, civil society, and residents.
“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 added.
Sanwo-Olu also charged safety officers to exercise fairness and discretion in enforcement.
“If you don’t need to shut a place down, don’t shut it down. When enforcement is necessary, do it responsibly, with a sense of accountability,” he said.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Mr. Lanre Mojola, said the creation of the Occupational Safety Cadre marked a historic first in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He added that 28 new Occupational Safety Officers had been introduced into the Lagos State Public Service, with plans to recruit more.
“We realise that enforcement actions are reducing as compliance is increasing. However, we remain committed to ensuring that safety regulations, especially those governing vertical transportation equipment are fully enforced,” Mojola stated.
He disclosed that the state is expanding regulations on construction safety, swimming pool control, dangerous goods, and transportation of hazardous materials, especially as Lagos serves as a major logistics hub for oil and gas distribution.
Mojola further revealed that over 20,000 facilities have registered on the government’s General Public Infrastructure Safety (GPIS) platform, which includes photographic evidence of compliance.
He noted that the commission is also leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent safety incidents before they occur.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed that occupational and general public safety remains a top priority for the Sanwo-Olu administration.
“Every Lagosian deserves to live, work, and move freely without fear. This conference provides a platform for policymakers, safety experts, and industry leaders to exchange ideas and chart new pathways for safer workplaces and communities,” Oyerinde said.
The LASOSH conference, now in its third edition, continues to serve as Lagos State’s flagship forum for advancing workplace safety, innovation, and sustainable risk management.
