By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. James Okosun, on Tuesday said that workplace safety was not just an organisational concern but a national security imperative.
Okosun stated this at the opening of a three-day training on Integrated Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Management at the College in Abuja.
Okuson was represented by the College Secretary, AVM Ayodele Hanidu.
The training was organised by the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies (CSRS) in collaboration with Hotchson Consulting Limited.
He said workplace hazards posed significant threats to human lives, productivity and institutional resilience, warning that without stronger safety frameworks, national development would remain undermined.
“Security is not only about defending against external threats; it is also about safeguarding lives within our workplaces and communities.
“This training is designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to identify, assess and mitigate risks in their respective institutions.
“The ultimate goal is to protect our workforce, enhance resilience and contribute to sustainable national development,” he added.
In his remarks, the Provost of CSRS, Prof. Adam Ahmed, said Nigeria must urgently strengthen its safety culture, noting that inadequate measures had continued to expose workers, particularly in high-risk sectors, to preventable hazards.
Citing statistics from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Ahmed said more than 2.78 million work-related deaths were recorded annually across the world.
He said it was not just a number; saying it represented families, communities and institutions losing valuable members every year.
According to him, the story is even more worrying in Nigeria as many incidents could have been prevented with proper safety consciousness.
“The training provides a strategic response to the challenges, by equipping participants from the military, police, security agencies, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the private sector with tools to promote safer work environments.
“Our collective responsibility is to build resilience and reduce risks. Health, safety and environment must not be treated as optional; they are essential to our survival, productivity and operational effectiveness,” he said.
Ahmed commended the consulting firm for its expertise in co-delivering the programme and the CSRS for meticulous planning, while appreciating the Commandant’s vision in approving the initiative.
He said the training would run from Sept. 2 to Sept 4, and was expected to build the capacity of middle-level personnel to drive HSE compliance and culture across sectors. (NAN)