Group charges Nigerian government to invest more in the safety commission of the country

Hybrid Group Limited, a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s provision for health, safety, and environmental sustainability, charged the government to invest more in the safety commission of the country.

Dapo Omolade, CEO of HYBRID Group, made this announcement yesterday during the organization’s maiden alumni network event.

Omolade noted that the Nigeria safety commission industry has been majorly dominated by foreign expatriates because the government has defected in the regulatory aspect of health and safety.

“Safety in Nigeria today has been done by expatriates that Nigeria can locally fit in. But why is that because Nigerians are not competent? This is where we come in as a health and safety training company to make Nigerian competence to be able to take the job. If you are not competent, you cannot manage safety so when they bring in an expert it is because there is no Nigeria that can do the job. So we have big opportunities for employment in Nigeria if the government decided to invest and set up a safety commission.”

He lauded the Lagos statement for setting examples to other states in the set-up and passing of laws concerning safety commission compliance in the state.

While speaking on the theme of the event, Reconnecting for Impacts, Omolade said that coming together is to create more impact and to continue to empower Nigerians in the area of health and safety.

He said; “Not just a stick, we want to be a bunch of brooms that can do so much and sweep and remove the dirt if you need to remove the dirt and make the place clean,”

“Beyond that, I want to also use this opportunity of the alumni network as an institution to continue to empower Nigerians in the area of health and safety. We want to make sure that Nigerians can learn this competence because this is what we do, it is our vision to make Nigeria a safe place from a safe, messy, safe place or walk safe processes and safe institutions. We believe when we do this, you and I can leave our home every day, go to work, and come back.”

In her address, the former Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Dominga Omolara Odebunmi, urged Nigerians to promote a safety culture in all endeavours.
Odebunmi added that organizations should ensure to do the right thing and stop cutting corners adding that they should put an end to the mal-treatment of employees.

She said; “organizations themselves want to protect their business. They want to make maximum profits, but you can only make maximum profits if you abide by safety rules because otherwise you will be paid for litigation every time. That’s not the route to go, he should make sure that a lot of professionals are working with organizations in a meaningful, positive way by making sure that they’re doing the right thing and not cutting corners.”

The Presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Chris Imumolen, charged the government to ensure that only safety professionals are hired in the field.
“We must stop appointing people through political lines; there are some positions that the government must not give people as a political reward. You just need professionals,” Imumolen said.

Imumolen stated that more awareness on safety should be taken to the nook and cranny of the country.