COVID-19: Let’s keep safe and impact society — ASSP President
By Eyo Nsima
The American Society of Safety Professionals, Nigeria Chapter, has urged its members to adopt safety principles and practices, required to remain alive while making a positive impact on society.
The Chapter President, Mrs. Mercy Omoifo Irefo, who made the call in her welcome address at the ongoing conference of the organization, tagged, “Public Safety, Making a Difference through Awareness, Intervention, and Compliance”, said: “In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, a state of the entire world has traumatically experienced and still going through, I urge you to move on with a strong spirit of hope facing the challenges which have brought a new method of learning new ways to cope with while hoping for the best and a better tomorrow.
“Let us be strong and positive in all our dealings, following strict Government policy and Guidelines for our safety. This phase shall pass.
We are privileged to have our distinguished guests, honurable members, members, and non-members present in-person and online. These great minds have come together to share knowledge and review our concerns as it relates to public safety at this great event.
“Our focus this year has been promoting human capacity development through knowledge sharing series and experience from experts in different fields of specialty and also to promote the awareness of public safety into our community as this will bring about developments, promote safety practice, incidents, and accident reduction, remarkable drop in crime rate and most importantly, promoting a healthier growing country for a better future.”
She added: “It is emphatic to state that safety has to be established before rapid development hence we need to drastically move from being informed and progressive in our various organizations following safety laws and regulations, standards and best practices guidance in deriving measures to enhance the knowledge of public and private sector on safety guidelines and procedures in all we do on a personal perspective. Safety awareness is still very low and needs to be addressed. Our existing laws and regulations need to be implemented, existing enforcement needs to be addressed, and other possible measures we may come up with at this gathering.”
The event, which attracted participants from public and private sectors, also witnessed the making of important presentations.
For instance, in his presentation – The Essence of Promoting Public Safety Awareness in Nigeria, Human Security Approaches and Challenges, Gbagbeke Joseph Edesiri, who defined Public Safety defines as “the Welfare and Protection of the General Public”, safeguarding people from crimes, disaster, and other potential dangers and threats to lives and properties, said: “In order to promote strong public safety and security of lives and properties, government commitment and will power must be positively exercised. Adequate funding of security agencies, provision of safety and security machinery, tools, and equipment are important.
“The need for governments to promote positive moral of safety and security personnel, training and re-training for behavioral change, better working environment, and improved conditions of service. There is a need to intensify campaigns to promote the sanctity of life and the safety of public and private properties. Above all, apply consequence management for violators of the various crimes; hence the correctional centers should be better equipped.”
He added; “To meet with the increasing challenges in the public security area, responsible public institutions and organizations can tap into their own intelligence to successfully address possible threats in Nigeria.
Public Security is the function of government which must ensure the protection of citizens, persons in their territory, organizations, and institutions against threats to their well-being and to the prosperity of their communities.”
