Akwa Ibom talks tough on safety, security of residents

*As Ememobong bags ISPON safety award

Akwa Ibom State Government has warned that it would come against any company operating in the state with tendencies to undermine the health, safety and security of the people.

The Commissioner for Information, Ini Ememobong gave the warning on Tuesday during a Safety Managers Forum and Leadership Workshop 2023, organised by the International Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Akwa Ibom State branch at the Industrial Training Fund ( ITF) Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo with the theme: “Preventing Organisational Losses Through Safe Work Practices and Safety Compliance Enforcement.”

Ememobong, who was a special guest at the occasion, emphasised that actions so far taken by the Governor Umo Eno-led government such as the termination of operations of Ruitai Mining Company in Ibeno and the relocation of Golden Tripod Company from Ikot Ekpene Road to Itam Industrial Park are pointers to the commitment of government to the safety of the people.

The commissioner emphasised that it was in a bid to heighten safety and security in the state that the government created the Ministry of Internal Security to checkmate loss of lives in the state, stressing that, the State government is opened to partnership with companies that will add value to the safety of the people and development of the state.

Represented by the Director of Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Akpan, the information helmsman commended ISPON for organising the very laudable workshop to fashion out ways toward Public awareness on environmental hazards and health safety of residents, particularly at the workplace.

He expressed appreciation to the Uyo branch of the Institute for the honour bestowed on him with the Exemplary Safety Leadership Award and dedicated the award to God the source of his inspiration and to Governor Umo Eno for the opportunity given him to serve without which, the recognition for the award would not have been feasible.

Receiving the Award on behalf of the Commissioner, the Director of Public Relations, Mrs Grace Akpan, enumerated the numerous measures Ememobong had put in place to mitigate hazards and heighten safety in the Ministry of Information workplace right from his first tenure of office.

She said the commissioner had also given the staff training on health safety and overhaul the electrical fixtures and connectivity in the entire block to forestall electrical faults hazard in addition to providing fire safety equipment in the Ministry.

Earlier, the state Chairman of ISPON, Dr. Anthony Akadi emphasised that the workshop was geared at reducing the alarming rate of incidents which have brought about organisational losses mostly caused by poor leadership safety attitudes.

In a keynote address, the Special Guest Presenter, Obong Ide Owodiong Idemeko, noted that safety failures are caused by people, process, and equipment and implored everyone to see safety as everybody’s business, whether at home or workplace, noting that, compliance with the process and procedures of safety would prevent losses of life.