In a move to enhance workplace safety and promote sustainable industrial growth, the Ogun State Government has unveiled plans to launch a comprehensive Statewide Industrial Safety Audit Programme designed to set measurable safety standards, identify emerging risks and improve operational resilience across industries.
This was disclosed on Tuesday in Abeokuta by the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ola Oresanya, at a one-day workshop for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) personnel in industrial facilities in the state.
He added that the State Safety Office would be transformed into a Safety Commission to improve compliance and regulatory oversight.
The programme was themed “Industrial Resilience and Safety Governance: Building a Culture of Compliance, Prevention and Sustainable Growth.”
The Commissioner explained that the audit programme was not intended to punish industries but to support continuous improvement and encourage accountability, operational excellence and sustainable growth.
He urged industries to make safety a key performance indicator alongside production, quality and profitability to reduce workplace accidents and strengthen business competitiveness.
Oresanya said the proposed commission would enhance policy implementation, technical oversight, enforcement, stakeholder collaboration and the adoption of global best practices in occupational safety and environmental protection.
The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Kafayat Lawal, said government inspections and safety audits revealed that many industries had documented safety policies but failed to implement them effectively.
According to him, safety should become an organisational culture driven by proactive leadership, continuous risk assessment, competent personnel and measurable performance, rather than periodic inspections.
“As part of this strategic vision, government is advancing the transformation of the existing safety office into a fully empowered Ogun State Safety Commission.
“This institutional reform reflects our commitment to creating a modern, responsive and professional safety regulatory system capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly sophisticated industrial economy.
“The proposed commission will strengthen policy implementation, enhance technical oversight and enable government and industry to work as partners in preventing accidents rather than merely responding to them,” he said.
The commissioner said the state had commenced a 2026-2028 Strategic Safety Transformation Agenda to ensure industrial growth was matched with strong safety, environmental protection and emergency preparedness systems.
He, therefore, challenged safety personnel to serve as change agents by applying knowledge gained from the training to improve workplace safety and ensure every worker returned home safely after work.
The Chairman, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, Ogun Chapter, Mr Temitope Amoo, noted that safety remained the bedrock of any surviving business.
“Safety is the bedrock of any surviving business. All safety professionals are important. Safety professionals must be up to date, that is why this training is important,” he said.
Mr Vincent Okoronkwo, a safety expert, noted that sustained safety training would strengthen workers’ safety consciousness and reduce workplace accidents across various sectors.
Okoronkwo lauded the state Ministry of Environment for promoting safety compliance through regular training for industries under its regulatory supervision.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would encourage organisations to prioritise safe work practices a
nd improve occupational safety standards across the state.
