The Joint National Transport Safety Committee of Nigeria (JNTSCON) has tasked Nigerians to comply with industrial transport, occupational health and Safety regulations for a brighter future in the country.
The National Chairman of JNTSCON, Mr Taiwo Mogbojuri, said this in his remarks at the National Industrial, Occupational and Safety Conference for the South-South region held in Uyo.
Mogbojuri said that the theme of the conference; Driving Towards a Safer and More Sustainable Future” required all hands to be on deck to ensure a safe future for Nigeria.
He noted that industries and transport systems in the country were at a crossroads where sustainability and safety must take priority.
He called on industries and transport stakeholders to take the conference as an opportunity to chart the way forward for a safe country in the future.
He urged stakeholders in the industries and transport sector to operate with global standards, prioritising the health and safety of workers in their work environments.
He emphasised the need for industries and transport stakeholders to ensure workers’ safety was paramount at the workplace by providing all necessary protective equipment.
“The theme of the conference challenges us to rethink and innovate, ensuring that safety and sustainability are at the core of our decision-making process.
“Creating a culture that values the prevention of risks and incidents is no small task, it requires collaboration, commitment and continuous education.
“The conference sessions will explore practical ways to build this culture within organisations, industries and communities,” he said.
The chairman reminded industries and transport owners that the safety of every worker is non-negotiable, stressing that every accident avoided, and every hazard mitigated was a step closer to achieving the vision of zero harm.
He said that compliance was not about enforcement but ensuring that safety regulations were deeply embedded in all operations.
“This requires collaboration between regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders and workers to ensure that laws are not only understood but upheld,” he said.
In his address, the Akwa Ibom Chairman of JNTSCON, Dr Preferred John, said that the conference was an avenue for awareness creation on promoting transport and occupational health safety.
John said that JNTSCON was established by the Presidency in 2018 with the mandate to enforce compliance on occupational health, safety and transportation value chain in the country.
He said the conference would raise awareness and promote safety consciousness among residents, particularly in the use of public infrastructure.
He said that there was a need for all to comply with basic safety rules at home, workplace and especially, while on the public roads to ensure safety.
Our Correspondent reports that participants at the conference were drawn from industries and transport sectors across the region.