The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) has intensified its crackdown on unqualified safety practitioners and the companies that engage them, warning that violations of the ISPON Act 2014 will now attract strict legal penalties.
Speaking during the induction of 105 new members in Lagos, ISPON President, Dr. Stephen Udeze, said anyone practicing safety without being registered is operating illegally and risks a ₦100,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
He added that Managing Directors who employ unregistered safety officers face a minimum ₦500,000 fine or six months in jail.
Dr. Udeze announced that ISPON has activated its task force to conduct nationwide compliance checks, backed by National Assembly oversight, noting that the institute’s restored unity has ushered in a new era of stronger enforcement.
ISPON Lagos Chairman, Mr. Olusola Ogunleye, said the institute is ramping up media advocacy to expose the dangers of using quacks, while partnering with government agencies, NECA and MAN to improve compliance.
He added that ISPON has digitized certification processes and upgraded training programmes to enhance professional standards across workplaces.
The Lagos State Government also reaffirmed its stance on safer workplaces, with Technical Adviser to the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Seun Awojobi, revealing that ISPON membership is now compulsory for all safety practitioners in the state.
He added that the Commission works daily with industries from construction to hospitality to ensure safety compliance, applying enforcement only when organizations refuse to follow regulations.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen