BY: News Peddlers
Lagos State Government has charged hotel and event center owners to adopt standards that will help to avoid accidents during the Yuletide season.
Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Special Duties, disclosed this in Lagos at a Yuletide sensitization session for hotel and event center owners hosted by AQAATA Safety Company and the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), on Wednesday.
The event, titled "The Science of Safe Events: Do the Right Thing in the New Normal,"
He stated that "the Lagos State Government does not compromise safety standards, and that safety is everyone's concern."
Ogunlende praised the Lagos State Safety Commission for successfully bringing together event center and hotel owners to tell them the truth.
"The truth should be told about some carelessness displayed during functions that could lead to disaster.
"Some of the issues raised were sufficient for the state to develop policies and regulations based on existing laws to improve safety and patronage," Ogunlende said.
Maintaining that "officials would return to his ministry and improve policies to improve event center safety."
He advised event organizers to speak the same language in order to enforce standard implementation procedures properly.
Oginlende further pointed out "that advocacy was important for everyone, including government organizations, and that the government would do more to educate other players in the event and entertainment industry.
"The government has been working to create a safety culture, and that there are laws and punishments in place for offenders to improve safety."
Adding that the government was working on fire workshops that would result in certificates to improve the safety culture.
"Sanwo-Olu recently launched 62 fire equipment and established six additional fire stations to reduce disaster and improve response times during times of crisis."
He praised the Lagos State Safety Commission for its efforts.
Mr. Lanre Mojola, Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, stated that "the Commission usually identified hazards before making decisions based on the level of the offense.
"If the offense was minor, they would issue warning letters, but if it was serious, they could fine or penalize the operators or offenders.
"If there was a loss of life, the offenders would be prosecuted, and that they had been engaging all key stakeholders, including artisans, on standard requirements for Health and Safety Care,” Mojola said.
"The safety of Lagos residents is our top priority, and we are constantly raising awareness about the dangers associated with negligence on duty," He added.
During the panel discussion, Mr Adeniyi Ologun, President of the Hotel Owners and Association, claimed that all of their hotels have security measures and safety policies in place to protect the lives of their clients and guests.
Adding that "hotel managers in Lagos have professionals in charge of their Health and Safety Departments, and that they usually provide guest safety tips before any event begins."
Mrs Omowunmi Segun, President of the Lagos Association of Venue Owners, affirmed that they persuaded customers of the importance of ambulances and other additional safety measures.
"Most clients reject safety measures, despite their insistence, because they witnessed a situation in which a dancer collapsed on stage and died as a result of inadequate first aid.
"There is a need to reorient bouncers on security measures, adding that rather than the bouncer directing visitors on safety, they appreciated them for compensation." She said.
Stating further that "some clients reduce their plan by reducing the number of security officers at events, which could lead to disaster, rather than following the recommendations."
She pleaded with the government to enact legislation that would punish any event client offender when necessary in order to improve the safety culture in their operations.
Mr Kunmi Ariyo, a member of the International Live Event Association, opined that many clients do not understand the safety guide unless it is broken down for better understanding.