The Lagos State Government has unveiled a suite of digital technologies including drones, real-time monitoring systems, and safety reporting apps — to strengthen workplace safety and reduce occupational hazards across the state.
The announcement was made at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH), held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island. Themed around proactive safety management, the conference underscored Lagos’ growing reliance on innovation and data to build safer, smarter workplaces.
According to a statement by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the initiative reflects the state’s broader vision of “predictive governance” — a model that leverages technology to anticipate risks and prevent incidents before they occur.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the adoption of drones, safety applications, and body cameras with thermal sensors will enable real-time hazard detection and faster response in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing, and hospitality.
“The future of safety lies in technology and data,” Sanwo-Olu said. “With drones for aerial surveillance, apps for instant hazard reporting, and thermal-enabled body cameras for compliance monitoring, Lagos is building a proactive safety culture that safeguards lives and livelihoods.”
As part of the initiative, the governor also launched the Safety First Campaign and inaugurated the Occupational Safety Cadre — described as the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. The cadre institutionalises safety management as a professional path within the Lagos public service, embedding structured oversight into everyday operations.
Sanwo-Olu noted that these interventions, guided by the first-ever Lagos State Safety Policy, have already reduced workplace incidents across key sectors. Through the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), the government has expanded zonal offices, increased unannounced inspections, and deployed data-driven enforcement to strengthen compliance.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building safe workplaces, noting that effective safety systems are vital to sustaining Lagos’ industrial growth.
LSSC Director-General, Dr. Lanre Mojola, added that the Commission is working to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its operations to enhance predictive analysis of workplace risks. He also disclosed that the state is implementing the Reporting of Injuries, Incidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIIDOR) to strengthen transparency and reporting culture across workplaces.
“With drones, digital monitoring, and AI-powered risk analysis, Lagos is setting a benchmark for smart safety governance in Africa,” Mojola said.
