Lagos engages stakeholders to strengthen safety standards in high-rise buildings

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to improve safety standards in high-rise buildings by engaging facility managers, safety professionals and other stakeholders on the need for stronger collaboration and strict compliance with safety regulations.

The stakeholder forum, organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission, was aimed at promoting a proactive safety culture and preventing avoidable fatalities in the built environment.

Speaking at the event, themed “Safe Building, Protected Workforce,” the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, said it had become imperative to integrate facility management and safety considerations into building design, construction and maintenance.

Drawing from his experience in facility management, Mojola described buildings as living ecosystems that require continuous monitoring and maintenance throughout their lifespan.

“I have seen how buildings operate, age and are managed. Many structures that are brand new begin to deteriorate within a short period because adequate maintenance is neglected.

“Buildings must be subjected to operational discipline, routine maintenance, electrical and mechanical inspections, lift checks, fire safety assessments and emergency preparedness on a regular basis,” he said.

He warned that every fire outbreak, structural failure or workplace accident serves as a reminder that safety must never be treated as an afterthought.

“Safety is the operational framework that protects lives, preserves asset value and sustains public confidence,” Mojola added.

He stressed that global best practices require facility managers to possess basic safety training and certification, noting that there is a direct relationship between effective facility management, workplace safety and security.

According to him, protecting workers goes beyond office environments to include painters on scaffolding, maintenance personnel working on rooftops, cleaners and third-party contractors engaged in high-risk operations.

“Our responsibility is to ensure they are protected from injuries, accidents and fatalities while carrying out their duties,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Technical Adviser to the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Seun Awojobi, described the engagement as an important platform for developing practical and implementable solutions to strengthen construction safety, facility management and occupational health across the state.

He said the theme reflected the collective responsibility of government, regulators and industry players to ensure that buildings meet the highest safety standards while guaranteeing that every worker returns home safely after work.

“For the Safety Commission, this is not merely a slogan. It is a commitment we have made to the people of Lagos, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” Awojobi said.

He noted that as Lagos continues to consolidate its position as Africa’s leading commercial hub, with increasing high-rise developments and expanding industries, there is an urgent need to balance economic growth with strict compliance with safety regulations.

Awojobi reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting a proactive safety culture through regular inspections, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, public enlightenment and consistent enforcement of safety regulations.

Also speaking, facility management expert Mr Lekan Akinwumi stressed the importance of collaboration between facility managers and safety professionals, describing teamwork as critical to ensuring workplace safety and operational efficiency.

He said integrating occupational safety with facility management remained essential to creating safe and productive work environments.

In separate goodwill messages, the President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr Stephen Udenzi; the President of the Association of Facility Management Practitioners of Nigeria (AFMPN), Dr Olumide Aina; and the President of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), represented by its Vice-President, Mr Hakeem Olaonipekun, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the built environment.

They maintained that sustainable development in the sector could only be achieved through strict adherence to the highest ethical and professional standards, while urging regulatory agencies to sustain enforcement of safety compliance.

Other experts at the forum delivered presentations on safety management in high-rise buildings, emergency preparedness and disaster prevention strategies, stressing the need for continuous capacity building to safeguard lives and property.